Why latest Cowboys news means a last-minute George Pickens trade could be brewing ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
A major roadblock to trading George Pickens during the 2026 NFL Draft is being lifted by the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver himself. And it changes everything about his future.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is signing his franchise tag, according to multiple reports. The timing of the news, which broke under two hours away from the 2026 NFL Draft, strongly suggests a trade could be in the works.
As of 5:34 pm CT, the tag remained unsigned per ESPN’s Todd Archer. But both Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported he’ll be signing it soon. Rapoport from NFL Network also indicated the tag hasn’t been signed, which raises questions about a Thursday night trade happening.
Let’s break it down.
Why Pickens signing the tag is massive
Short version: If Pickens didn’t sign the tag, he would not be under contract. Therefore, he wouldn’t be eligible to be traded by the Cowboys.
Long version: The news comes on the heels of the Cowboys announcing they wouldn’t negotiate a long-term deal with Pickens. Naturally, the lack of a long-term plan often means trade possibilities as teams seek to get something in return instead of allowing a player eventually walk in free agency.
Not to mention, it’s only fair to ask ourselves: Why would the Cowboys drop negotiations now? A possible explanation could be to draw trade interest from the entire league.
As for Pickens, signing the tag makes little sense right now unless his camp is aware a trade could happen. As long as he didn’t sign the tag, he wasn’t eligible to be fined even if he missed training camp practices. So why sign it now?
Sure, I guess one explanation could be he is okay with the tag and is showing the Cowboys his commitment despite them not showing their commitment to him. But come on. Far-fetched, right?
Here’s another, much likelier, explanation: A team trading for him is likely going into the trade with a contract extension in mind. Signing the tag enables the Cowboys to make that happen. He wins.
Final minutes before the draft
We’re writing this under 90 minutes away from the NFL Draft. The Cowboys have been rumored to be interested in wide receivers Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana), and others. They’ve also been rumored to be interested in moving up without giving up Pick No. 20.
Where does Pickens fit in the puzzle? It’s going to be a long night.
