The Dallas Cowboys are no strangers to making a splashy move. Look no further than their offseason trade of star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
Whether justified or controversial, owner Jerry Jones is never afraid to shake things up, and with the NFL Trade Deadline approaching, another trade could be on the horizon — at least that's what Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw is advocating for.
Shockingly, the Cowboys are 3-4-1 and at least in the conversation for a playoff spot due to their second-ranked scoring offense. Led by quarterback Dak Prescott, Dallas is averaging 30.8 points per game. Their success could lead Dallas' front office to execute a deal to improve their defense in hopes of a second-half playoff push, or, according to Cowlishaw, trade away their leading receiver, George Pickens, to maximize his value.
Pickens is in the middle of a career season with Dallas, tied for ninth in the NFL in targets and ranking third in receiving yards and first in yards after the catch. So why would Dallas trade away Prescott's top target after acquiring him for a 2026 third-round pick and 2027 fifth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers?
“Simple,” Cowlishaw states. “Dallas cannot afford to think about paying him after this season. With the numbers he has put up, all while not causing any of the disruptions that made the Steelers eager to move on without him, he’s a $30-million-a-year receiver. Easy. And if you think the franchise tag is an option, it projects at $28 million next season. In 2026, Dak Prescott has a $74 million salary cap number, according to overthecap.com. Lamb carries a $38.6 million figure. Javonte Williams is making a whopping $3 million this year and is deserving of at least a decent running back wage. But you want to add $28 million more for another wide receiver, even a really good one?”
Pickens is in the final year of his rookie contract, thus making Cowlishaw bullish on paying him. Pair that with the Parsons trade, and Cowlishaw believes the Cowboys should double down on their investment in getting younger, improving the defense, and avoiding the trap of a potential playoff push.
“The notion of winning by scoring at least 30 points every game is a failed exercise, ” Cowlishaw writes. “And thinking about ways to keep Pickens is the same as paying no attention to what happened on defense last year, what’s happening on defense this year, and what this defense will look like in 2026.”
The Cowboys' defense is allowing 31.6 points per game, the second-worst clip in the league. While Cowlishaw's idea may sound surprising, it is not without reason.
