Jerry Jones and Cowboys could lose George Pickens to a surprise NFC team originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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George Pickens’ situation with the Dallas Cowboys has become a major talking point since the team placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on him in February. He later formalized it by signing the tender on April 29, and since then, there have been questions about whether he will remain in Dallas long-term.
With the Cowboys already committing top-of-the-market money to CeeDee Lamb, the front office has been cautious about extending another massive deal to Pickens.
That uncertainty has fueled trade speculation, and the Atlanta Falconshave become the leading potential landing spot. According to Polymarket, there is currently a 50% chance that the Cowboys could move him.
The buzz connecting Pickens to Atlanta stems from an offseason trade proposal pitched by Heavy Sports analyst Tony Adame. He suggested a swap where the Falcons would send Drake London and a second-round pick to Dallas in exchange for Pickens.
“Pickens helps any team he’s on win games, but in Atlanta, he’s also a box-office draw,” Adame wrote in February. “Don’t forget that Pickens starred at the University of Georgia and was on the team that won the school’s first College Football Playoff national championship in 40 years following the 2021 season.”
The Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had the franchise tag placed on him twice in his career, and he knows the position that Pickens is in. He expressed excitement about the wide receiver returning to the facility and getting back to work with the team.
The Cowboys are preparing for OTAs with or without Pickens in attendance, and the earliest he is required to report is June 16 for the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp.
The Cowboys need to be careful about Pickens, as he absolutely balled out in 2025 and was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler. honors. Those accolades came after he recorded career highs across the board with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and 9 touchdowns.
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