The best case scenario for the Cowboys out of a George Pickens trade isn’t what you expect

If the Dallas Cowboys were to trade George Pickens, what would they get in return? Not much.

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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Trading George Pickens wouldn’t yield the kind of results for the Dallas Cowboys that you would expect after a season with All-Pro honors. That’s at least according to one annonymous AFC executive.

But then what could the Cowboys get in return for Pickens, whom they acquired by trading a third-round pick last year, if they decided to trade him?

Insider reveals disappointing intel on Pickens value

Cowboys insider Nick Harris from Fort Worth Star-Telegram revealed what one NFL scout out of the AFC told him about the value of Pickens via a trade following national reports indicating Dallas would consider the scenario.

The answer is a disappointing one for those daydreaming about a draft haul or a player-for-player deal involving Las Vegas Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

“(The scout) is like ‘second-round pick at the best case scenario with a Day 3 pick swap,” Harris said on his Cross Chop podcast. “But in reality, you’re probably maybe looking at a third & a fourth.”

That’s surprisingly little for a wide receiver who just caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Specially since he went beyond initial expectations of just being a good WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb. At times, he was the Cowboys WR1, and the offense didn’t miss a beat when Lamb was injured because of him.

So then, why the little value?

Financials play a major role

First, there is the attitude concerns that existed during Pickens’ time in Pittsburgh. Though they mostly dissipated in Dallas, they’ll linger for some front offices that even removed the star receiver from their draft boards back in 2022, prompting his unexpected fall to the third round.

But that’s not all.

Whoever trades for Pickens will likely need to sign him to a long-term deal for him to show up at training camp and properly prepare for the regular season. And here’s the often overlooked reality of trades: There is no bigger factor in determining the value of a trade than expected cash flows.

Using Maxx Crosby as an example, his value will not only be high because of how good of a player he is but also because he’s already under contract through 2029. After 2027, there will be no guaranteed salary left on his deal.

All it takes is one team that’s really interested in Pickens to offer more than expected. But based on Harris’ report, it’s probably safe to assume teams won’t be lining up to risk it all for the wide receiver.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing

Maybe NFL teams don’t have a lot of reasons to expect Pickens to be all-in if they trade for him.

But for the most part, the Cowboys raved about Pickens’ attitude and behavior. He missed curfew in Las Vegas alongside Lamb, and some have alluded to tardiness for meetings, but there wasn’t any locker room drama going on like with the Steelers.

Which leads me to this: So why if the Cowboys don’t get strong offers for him?

The Cowboys’ best chance at making a Super Bowl is through an elite offense. If Pickens sticks around, they have the potential to have one, as shown in 2025 by finishing as a Top 5 scoring unit. Dallas should focus on signing Pickens to a long-term deal, not getting a haul for him.

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