If we’re going for the most dramatic outcomes possible when it comes to Day 1 of the 2026 NFL draft, please keep the Dallas Cowboys in mind.

The Cowboys not only have the draft capital to pull off a blockbuster trade, but they also have the personnel — led by NFL All-Pro wide receiver George Pickens.

While most of the focus on the Cowboys has been on who they will pick with their pair of 1st-round picks at No. 12 and No. 20, or whether they will swap either one or both of those picks, another option might be to trade Pickens.

If the Cowboys find a team willing to give up a 1st round pick for Pickens, that would not only allow the Cowboys to move up and take either edge rusher Arvell Reese or edge rusher David Bailey and keep 1 of their 1st round picks, it could happen.

Then, depending on how high the Cowboys remain, they could take another wide receiver in the 1st round — 3 wide receivers seem like locks to be 1st round picks in Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, USC’s Makai Lemon, and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson.

If the Cowboys thought they could get an elite wide receiver and elite edge rusher in the draft simply by dealing Pickens? And still have multiple 1st round picks left?

Seems like a no-brainer for owner and general manager Jerry Jones.

Draft Day Trade Prediction Could ‘Rock’ NFL

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox predicts the Cowboys could “Rock” the 1st day of the NFL draft by dealing Pickens — maybe even as the 1st round progresses.

“Dallas locked up Pickens early in the offseason with the franchise tag and is widely expected to address its 30th-ranked defense early in the draft,” Knox wrote. “However, the Cowboys haven’t ruled out taking an offensive difference-maker with the 12th or 20th overall selections. The Cowboys might be even more eager to land an offensive playmaker if they decided to trade Pickens during the draft’s opening night. While keeping him long-term makes plenty of sense in a vacuum, paying Pickens a market rate alongside CeeDee Lamb could be problematic.”

Prime Candidate for Pickens Holds No. 2 Overall Pick

The most clear-cut candidate for Pickens’ services appears to be the New York Jets at No. 2 overall.

In this case, the deal might be Pickens and the No. 20 overall pick to the Jets in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick, where the Cowboys could take Reese or Bailey. Then the Cowboys take Tate, Lemon, or Tyson — hopefully Tate or Lemon — with the No. 12 overall pick.

Dallas is in a unique spot where they could actually trade Pickens and not expect the offense to fall apart — something only possible because they already have NFL All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on a long-term contract.

It stands to reason that the Cowboys want to avoid paying 2 wide receivers over $30 million per year, which they would have to eventually do with Lamb and Pickens.

There’s also an argument to be made that, coming off career highs across the board, the value of Pickens in any possible trade scenario will never be higher than it is right now.