The Dallas Cowboys kept their word at the NFL trade deadline. They didn’t buy, they didn’t sell, and they didn’t make a single move, big or small.

Dallas did its business earlier in the season, trading for CB Joey Porter Jr. and moving a second-rounder in the process. But deadline day came and went without a peep from the Cowboys, and that leaves one name hanging over the entire decision: WR George Pickens.

I argued the Cowboys would have been smart to pick a lane and avoid riding the fence. To a degree, though, standing pat is understandable. At 4-5, Dallas is still alive in the division race.

Why staying put makes sense for now

The New York Giants are favored to win the NFC East, and the Cowboys will need some help from them to change that. Dallas also has to figure out how to stack wins together, something it hasn’t done once this season.

It’s doable, though. The Cowboys could end up winning the division, and I get not wanting to pass on that opportunity.

On the other hand, this team isn’t good enough to justify sending future resources away for a deadline rental. Jerry Jones seemed to admit as much during his radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan, when he acknowledged the team’s health, especially at quarterback with Dak Prescott, doesn’t match the success the Cowboys have had.

So not buying makes sense. Not selling makes sense, too.

And yet, this decision puts Dallas in a spot where it could age terribly depending on what happens in the 2027 offseason.

George Pickens has to be on the team in 2027

Here’s the thing about not trading Pickens: it only works if he’s still a Cowboy next season. Otherwise, holding onto him at the deadline makes little to zero sense.

Dallas placed the franchise tag on Pickens because the front office wanted him to prove it. Essentially, the Cowboys wanted to see him repeat his 2025 production in 2026.

I’m not going to lie to you, that hasn’t gone great. However, I’d put most of that on the coaching staff. The Cowboys have failed to get Pickens involved in the game plan, and they haven’t given Prescott easier access to him beyond asking him to win one-on-one over and over again.

Pickens has still flashed the talent of one of the top receivers in the league. He’s also still young and has left most behavior concerns behind in Pittsburgh. 

Keep in mind, the Cowboys aren’t in a position to rebuild in 2027. They need to improve this roster a lot, but a full teardown isn’t realistic. Dallas only has three draft picks in 2027, and its salary cap space will probably go largely toward re-signing players already on the team. I wouldn’t expect the Cowboys to be big spenders in free agency.

To me, that means one thing. If Pickens isn’t on the team next season, I have major questions about what they’re doing.

A special receiver duo of Pickens and CeeDee Lamb was always supposed to be the secret to Dallas’ success. It was the key to 2026 and potentially 2027 if you view this as Prescott’s win-now window, probably the last of his career.

No extension, no excuse

Let me be clear. The wisest move for the Cowboys is to find a way to keep Pickens, so I’m not complaining about them holding onto him now.

But if this was simply a way to ride the fence and avoid admitting the season hasn’t gone the way they wanted, that’s a different story. If the Cowboys already know Pickens won’t be around next season, I don’t understand being content with a potential 2028 compensatory pick. That pick could be a third-rounder, but waiting until 2028 for it isn’t proactive front office work.

For this decision to age well, Dallas has to keep him. Chances are that means a long-term deal.

Placing the franchise tag on Pickens for a second straight year would cost 20% more than this year’s tag, putting it at more than $33 million. The Cowboys could go that route and hope Pickens embraces the tag the way he did in 2026. It would be a risk, though.

The Cowboys made a big decision by not dealing Pickens away. Now they have to complement it next year. We’ll see if it happens.