The Dallas Cowboys have made a series of what appear to be positive personnel changes this offseason and even made a stellar coaching upgrade. It really does feel like this team is trending in the right direction and has the potential to win the NFC East.
The defense has taken center stage this offseason, as former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was replaced by Christian Parker, who has Vic Fangio roots. On offense, the team was able to get a deal done with Javonte Williams and slapped the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens.
On paper, it's not hard to argue that Dallas' roster is the best in the division, but 'winning' the offseason does not guarantee anything. In fact, this latest trade prediction would not only indicate an overall lack of success in 2026, but it could end up being the worst-case scenario for the Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys predicted to trade George Pickens to the Kansas City Chiefs at the deadline
In his early trade deadline bold predictions, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton predicted that Dallas would ship Pickens to the Kansas City Chiefs:
"Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones made it clear that the team won't negotiate a long-term deal with George Pickens, via The Athletic's Jon Machota.
"'We've made a decision that we're going to have George Pickens (play under the franchise tag). There won't be negotiations on a long-term deal,' Jones said.
"While Pickens skipped OTAs, wideout Ryan Flournoy generated early offseason buzz.
"'Ryan Flournoy, I really think is taking the next step," head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters. "I think he has a chance to be a terrific receiver in this league.'
"Schottenheimer's comments alone aren't a reason to believe Flournoy is Pickens' eventual replacement, but it's worth noting the 26-year-old receiver caught 40 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns last season. He's set to be the No. 3 receiver following Jalen Tolbert's departure to the Miami Dolphins in free agency.
"The Cowboys may see untapped potential in Flournoy, who could outpace his 2025 receiving numbers in a stable role. If so, they may be comfortable with moving on from Pickens, whose market value is steep after his career year, hauling in 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.
"Dallas' hesitation to negotiate a long-term deal with Pickens opens up the possibility for a trade midway through the upcoming campaign.
"If Flournoy blossoms in a complementary role, the Cowboys could trade Pickens to a receiver-needy contending team like the Kansas City Chiefs, who don't have a reliable lead perimeter playmaker."
Trading Pickens to the Chiefs before the trade deadline would be an absolutely brutal decision. It seems ridiculous, but in the event that Dallas would be willing to trade Pickens, the 2026 NFL season would have to be an absolute disaster. No fan wants that.
Even if the Cowboys had no desire to extend Pickens beyond 2026, there is every reason out there to hold onto him if the Cowboys are in the middle of the playoff hunt. Stephen Jones seems adamant that the Cowboys won't extend Pickens, but that comment also seems like a 'right now' type of thing.
If the Cowboys are, for example, in first place in the NFC East right before the trade deadline, and Pickens is again playing well, I'd be shocked if there weren't, at least, some negotiations. For all the criticism that the Cowboys get, this front office has never been afraid to pay players - that's a fact.
Trading him in general would be a disappointment, so this isn't so much a worst-case scenario because it's to the Chiefs in this prediction. Pickens is only set to enter his age-25 season and is someone who contributes to one of the more dangerous offenses in the NFL.
Pickens' 6-foot-3 frame makes him an obvious threat down the field, but he also possesses the short-area burst and quickness to win with his route-running. His athleticism is off the charts, too. If Dallas did get some sort of godfather-type offer for Pickens, then we're having a different discussion.
But, for the most part, an in-season trade of Pickens would probably feel like all the hard work to improve the team this offseason just did not work out. This team did win seven games in 2025 and were 6-5-1 at one point, despite having the 32nd-ranked scoring defense.
For 2026, you're really just asking this defense to be average, as an average defense and a top-7 defense, which is what Dallas had in 2025, would be plenty enough to make a run. Don't believe me? Well, in 2021, the Los Angeles Rams finished 7th in points scored and 15th in points allowed, won 12 games, and also won the Super Bowl.
What the Cowboys have right now is absolutely something that can be sustainable throughout an entire season, and a Pickens trade would ruin that.
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