George Pickens may be cheap now, but acquiring him via trade isn’t a one-time transaction.
Such a deal would cost the Dallas Cowboys twice — first in draft capital, and again in 2026 with a contract extension. But that’s the price you pay for potentially pairing CeeDee Lamb with one of the league’s most physically gifted WR2s.
And if Dallas can also land a day-one impact player at running back — say, Omarion Hampton — this becomes a two-for-one swing that reshapes the offense in an instant.
Why is this a front-burner issue today?
Pittsburgh apparently whispered to ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Pickens is “expendable.”
Why would the Steelers leak that?
No idea. But it creates a Cowboys opening.
Still, timing is everything. The fact that this report is leaking exactly one week before the draft feels calculated. It’s classic smoke-screen season — float a name, stir the pot, and hope a desperate team overpays in the chaos.
But the league isn’t dumb. Pickens is extension-eligible in 2026 and comes with enough behavioral red flags to lower his market price. That’s exactly why a once-creative front office like Dallas could explore multiple avenues to acquire him.
Maybe they trade back from pick 12 and add Pickens in the process. Or maybe they keep their draft board intact and send conditional 2025 or 2026 compensation to Pittsburgh. Either way, it’s reasonable to assume his value is equivalent to what Seattle paid for DK Metcalf, but it may not be— despite their skillset’s being strikingly similar.
The Cowboys could walk away with a premium WR2 AND a stud RB1 for below-market value… if they play it right.
All thanks to a “leak.”
