The George Pickens Experience in 2025 was nothing short of a pass-catching lollapalooza for the Dallas Cowboys. He didn’t just play receiver. He functioned as a human highlight reel, snagging 93 receptions for a career-high 1,429 yards, including nine wonderful touchdowns. He possessed a rare combination of catch radius and body control, putting 50/50 balls heavily in his favor. Pickens made opposing defensive backs look silly, something Cowboys fans haven’t seen since the days of prime Dez Bryant.

So, let’s trade him!

That’s been the talk this past week as the Cowboys slowly approach a time when they’ll need to decide his future. Previously, we mentioned that Dallas would be wise to consider making a blockbuster swap with the Las Vegas Raiders for edge rusher extraordinaire, Maxx Crosby. In that hypothetical, the Raiders would give up quite a bit, and it doesn’t seem like a realistic scenario. So, today, we’re throwing a second offer on the table.

Unlike the Crosby proposition, this one won’t make fans happy. Before we get into the details, let’s first explain why the Cowboys should consider parting ways with one of last year’s most exciting offensive weapons.

As any seasoned investor will tell you, the best time to sell is when the hype is deafening. While Pickens reached the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career, a closer look at the data suggests his production could be more of a solar flare than a steady sun. He was a superstar early. No doubt about it. But over his final six games of the season, the yardage totals began a steady descent, featuring only one 100-yard performance and three games where he disappeared for under 40 yards.

And it goes a little beyond the box score. The erratic behavior that apparently bothered the coaching staff in Pittsburgh started to creep up a bit in Big D. Seeing both Pickens and CeeDee Lamb benched for a series as punishment during the year was weird. Especially since Lamb was caught up in it. He’s been a pretty straight-shooter. It’s not lost on us that the Steelers gave up on him quicker than a New Year’s diet, which should serve as a flashing yellow light for the Cowboys’ front office. Yellow, mind you. Not red.

The Cowboys could take the mystery out of what possible antics lie ahead and ship Pickens off to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for the 36th overall pick. The Raiders would be much more likely to do this because they’d get a receiver for their new quarterback, and still have Crosby.

But this could work very well for the Cowboys, too. This would give the Cowboys an unprecedented treasure chest of three picks in the top 36, providing a golden opportunity to draft three immediate defensive starters. With a new defensive coaching staff coming in, handing them three top prospects on rookie deals is the ultimate welcome gift. It allows the new coordinators to build a foundation of disciplined, high-upside players rather than trying to manage a mercurial wideout that will eat up a lot of cap space. If the Cowboys pull this off, they will take a giant step in fixing their defense.

Losing Pickens is not something fans want to think about. He’s a good player. But do the Cowboys need two 1,000-yard receivers to be great on offense? Couldn’t they also be pretty darn good with a more affordable WR2 option?

This could be a good time to find out. The 2026 free agent market is ripe with affordable alternatives. Veteran anchors like Mike Evans or Deebo Samuel could provide the physical presence Dallas needs. Shifty options like Wan’Dale Robinson or home run threats like Rashid Shaheed would offer the tactical speed to complement Lamb. Any of these receivers would allow Lamb to remain the undisputed focal point of the passing attack, while still providing Dak Prescott a quality second option down the field.

The Cowboys scored in a big way when they got Pickens for a future third-round pick. They deserve to reap the spoils of such a great deal. And while locking him down long-term is a nice prize, it might even be better to flip him for a quality defensive starter. Instead of another massive cap hit, the team gets a third premium draft pick, all of which will play on a low-cost rookie contract. They could then turn around and spread those funds to attack more holes on their roster. This strategy transforms the roster from a top-heavy passing circus into a balanced, well-rounded contender with a rejuvenated defense. It is a rare scenario where losing a star player actually makes the team brighter, proving that sometimes the best way to catch a championship is to cash in on the highlight reel.