One thing at a time... In what has been a wild day so far in the NFL, one storyline heading into the 2026 NFL Draft is at least tangentially related to a former UGA star. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens finally signed his franchise tag. In doing so, the Georgia legend can now conceivably be traded to anyone at any point this offseason. Signing it the day the NFL Draft starts is something...
However, Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network quieted the rumors that Pickens will be dealt on Thursday.
From NFL Draft Kickoff: #Cowboys WR George Pickens is signing his franchise tag, but a trade (at least tonight) is not expected. pic.twitter.com/4v5fzEG7i7
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 23, 2026
Live from the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Rapoport relayed some very important information to his NFL Network colleague Rich Eisen on the Pickens matter. He could be dealt, but probably not tonight.
"Cowboys star receiver George Pickens is, in fact, signing his franchise tag, locking in a one-year, $27.3 million, fully-guaranteed deal. This after Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones had a very cordial conversation with his agent David Mulugheta, something that never happened during the Micah Parsons saga. He is now signed. He also, I should add, could be traded as soon as he is signed, but I do not at least expect that tonight."
Now that Pickens has officially put pen to paper with the Cowboys, what does it really mean for him?
George Pickens could be traded by the Dallas Cowboys, but not right now
While much will be made about where former Georgia star wide receiver Zacahriah Branch goes after his untimely arrest, Pickens now being eligible to be traded does open things up a bit. For as good as Branch was at Georgia, Pickens was the better prospect coming out. If not for his personality issues, Pickens may have been a first-round pick like A.J. Green was, and Ladd McConkey should have been.
In short, there is no receiver coming out in this year's draft who will be as good as what Pickens is now. Branch could be one day, as could others such as Denzel Boston, Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate, or Jordyn Tyson. It is why teams who are in dire need of a No. 1 wide receiver could call the Cowboys. Then again, things did not seem acrimonious at all with Pickens' agent like it got with Micah Parsons...
Right now, it is a one-year deal for Pickens to stay in Dallas for potentially a second season. The Joneses love themselves stars, but preferably their homegrown guys. Pickens is not that since he was drafted out of Georgia by Pittsburgh. Regardless, he does seem to be a guy that Dallas enjoys having around. However, somebody might be willing to give a Godfather offer for this wide receiver.
In the end, if Pickens is going to be dealt, it is not going to be for a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Dallas would do cartwheels in the streets if that were the case. As for a second or third-round pick this year, and potentially even more compensation in the 2027 NFL Draft, that could be in play for Pickens as early as Friday. Again, him signing his franchise tag has allowed this to be a possibility.
For now, let's sit back and enjoy all the splendor the NFL Draft has in store for us from Pittsburgh!
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