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Here's why Cowboys shouldn't include Pickens in pursuit of Maxx Crosby

February 13, 2026 · Yahoo Sport

There is no shortage of opinions when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys and how they can turn things around after missing the playoffs for two straight seasons. One of the most polarizing, seemingly fabricated topics early this offseason has been is if the Cowboys should trade wide receiver George Pickens to the Las Vegas Raiders for pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

It has been a theory that has been floating around for a few weeks, and something that grew even bigger when two rumors coincided during Super Bowl week. The pieces of gossip that have sent this into overdrive were the expectations the Cowboys will use the franchise tag on Pickens, while Crosby reportedly told the Raiders he’ll never play for them again.

Now that both reports have hit the interwebs, the mainstream media is in on the action.

And off we go; is it really the offseason if it doesn’t revolve around the Cowboys?

While this trade is fun to talk about, it’s a bad idea for the Cowboys and it makes little sense for them.

Success runs through the offense for the Cowboys, and Jerry Jones paid quarterback Dak Prescott handsomely to be the centerpiece of it all. Dallas needs to keep the band together after what was one of the best seasons in Prescott’s career, with Pickens playing a big role. The offense ranked second in the league in total offense last year, and the unit could be even better with Pickens back for his second season to pair with fellow WR CeeDee Lamb, who should be healthier, and a young offensive line that will continue to ascend.

Pickens also had the best season of his career with a top QB throwing him the ball, posting career high numbers in catches, yards and touchdowns on his way a second-team All-Pro nod. Coupled with Lamb’s fifth straight 1,000-yard season, Pickens gives the Cowboys two top WRs, who are both All-Pro’s, something no other NFL team can boast. That makes the offense a dangerous, and a difficult one to defend, something defenses admitted after the season.

Keeping Pickens is a must, but it won’t come cheap. The team can franchise him at around $29 million, or can work out a deal to lower the initial cap hit and spread out the cost of keeping a second top WR over the length of any new deal. Having two WRs cost over $30 million annually is not ideal, but the Cowboys can afford to take the hit.

Currently, the Cowboys are over the cap but have easy triggers into opening salary cap space to make it happen.

Another reason to retain Pickens is because the Cowboys and Prescott are on a timeline to win. Prescott will be 33-years old when the 2026 campaign arrives and he has two, maybe three elite years left, which coincides with the length of his contract. Lamb’s deal also runs for three more seasons, which gives the Cowboys a three-year window which they’ve built to compete for a Super Bowl. Having a top QB-WR-WR trio in tow for the next three seasons gives the team its best chance of winning.

None of this is to dissuade Dallas from trading for Crosby, it just doesn’t need to come at Pickens’ expense. It would be expensive to have both on the roster, but the team can free up the most money in the league with restructurings, so it’s not impossible to keep Pickens and add Crosby.

It’s not the cost that would stop the Cowboys from trading for Crosby, it’s the resources. Pickens shouldn’t be a part of any deal, but the draft picks are what might hinder the swap. The Cowboys do have two first-round selections, but no pick on Day 2 this April, which could stall a trade.

Crosby’s signed for four more seasons but as a trade acquisition with no guaranteed money on his deal beyond 2026, an acquiring team could align him with whatever competitive window they deem suitable.

If Jones wants to win and is doing things differently this offseason, as he’s said, trading Pickens for Crosby doesn’t make sense. The time to swing for the fences is now; the Cowboys should be keeping Pickens and trying to add talent on defense. Trading for Crosby would be an ideal part of rebuilding a putrid defensive unit, but it should not come at the expense of Pickens.

Having both players would be great, but if the suggestion is to have one or the other, Pickens seems like the easy choice.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Here's why Cowboys shouldn't include Pickens in pursuit of Maxx Crosby

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