It's been a strange, somewhat head-scratching season for the Dallas Cowboys so far. The team has gotten off to a disappointing 4-5 start to the year, including a few heartbreaking losses and others with late-game blown leads. As a result, the team is teetering on the edge of whether to be buyers or sellers as the trade deadline approaches. But as Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline approaches, no name is bigger than Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens.
In an ideal world, the Cowboys would simply ink Pickens to a long-term contract extension, but the NFL salary cap isn't that friendly when you're already paying one of the NFL's best wideouts. Given that Pickens is playing on the franchise tag this season, and the Cowboys having limited options on how
to keep him beyond 2026, it's natural to see his name floated with the team holding a sub-.500 record at the deadline.
However, if you haven't noticed, the NFC East is a bit of a mess. Injuries have derailed the division, with the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles each with just two wins. The New York Giants lost quarterback Jaxson Dart to injury but still lead the NFC East 5-2-1. So, with the Cowboys still very much in contention for the division, what's the word on Pickens?
Latest on George Pickens trade rumors ahead of the NFL deadline
Pickens was inactive on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, and as longtime Cowboys reporter Ed Werder noted, he posted the two lowest snap counts of his season before that game. However, that was reportedly because the team was managing Pickens' injuries, not because of anything involving trade talks.
As for what will happen with Pickens, it's anyone's guess, but let's all remember that the NFC East crown isn't out of reach. For Jerry Jones, that means he surely sees the opportunity for his team to live up to expectations and fix its early-season struggles. The Cowboys trading Pickens, with Jones at the helm and a division title still possible, doesn't seem likely at all.
Arguably the biggest tidbit, though, comes from Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who reported that the Cowboys "never engaged in trying to send [Pickens] away" this offseason, and that strategy "remains the same ahead of the deadline."
Harris added that if the season continues to spiral, Pickens could head to free agency and leave Dallas. However, he also points out that the Cowboys still have ways to lock him into a long-term extension.
However, NFL Network's Michael Robinson saw it differently and believes the Cowboys should be sellers at the trade deadline.
George Pickens to the Chiefs? 🤔
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) November 9, 2026
Michael Robinson believes the Cowboys should be sellers ahead of the trade deadline 👀 pic.twitter.com/9MSZQQgH5Z
As in any situation, every debate has two sides, and every decision involves tough choices. For now, it seems more likely the Cowboys will keep Pickens rather than trade him ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. That's not a guarantee, but at the very least, it aligns with the latest insight and fits what we've seen from the Cowboys' longtime owner in the past.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: George Pickens trade rumors: Latest on Cowboys WR ahead of deadline
