George Pickens.
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The Dallas Cowboys and wide receiver George Pickens are dealing with contract talks, and now, the Cowboys are being linked to a replacement.
The Dallas Cowboys and wide receiver George Pickens are still working out contract details, and it may come to the point where the two parties decide to part ways. Now, if that happens, the Cowboys appear to be putting out feelers for a Pickens replacement.
Even though the Cowboys didn’t make it to the postseason, they had a strong 2025-26 and finished No. 2 in total offense, No. 2 in passing offense and No. 7 in scoring offense for the run. It was a breakout year for Pickens, who clocked 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games with the team, according to ESPN research.
Pickens emerged as one of the strongest wide receivers in the Cowboys’ squad during his inaugural season with the team. The Cowboys snagged Pickens in an offseason trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and within months, he became an apt partner to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and one of quarterback Dak Prescott‘s strongest offensive members.
But, Jerry Jones doesn’t like paying big bucks for players, and as time passes and Pickens’ contract talks continue, NFL analysts and experts are predicting that he may end up elsewhere. If that happens, the Cowboys are looking at a bevy of wide receivers to replace him, and they’re meeting with one this coming week.
Dallas Cowboys Meeting With Player Who Could Replace George Pickens: Report
If the Cowboys don’t work out a deal with Pickens, they’ll need another strong wide receiver behind Lamb. Now, they may have found one in the 2026 NFL draft.
The 91st annual event is set for April in Pittsburgh, and while the Cowboys are expected to load up on defenders in the draft, they may also get a Pickens replacement. Now, as it turns out, they’re meeting with one.
According to Arye Pulli, the Cowboys are one of three teams scheduled to meet with Texas Tech wide receiver Reggie Virgil before his Pro Day.
“Source: Texas Tech WR Reggie Virgil is scheduled to meet with the Saints, Cowboys and Lions before his Pro Day next week,” Pulli stated in a post on X on Friday, March 20. “Virgil already met with all 32 teams several times, and my understanding is that his position on team draft boards is stronger than the media suggests.”
So, if Virgil already met with all 32 NFL teams “several times,” he’s certainly a serious contender in the 2026 NFL draft. While Virgil, of course, would be a rookie, he would bring the skills and talent needed to eventually become a Pickens replacement.
Status of Dallas Cowboys and George Pickens’ Contract Negotiations
Jaylen Waddle was traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, March 18, and that deal impacts the Cowboys. Now, some are urging Dallas to trade Pickens and get the kind of deal Miami got with Denver.
“Tuesday provided some overall context for the proverbial price for George Pickens should the Dallas Cowboys be interested in trading him,” RJ Ochoa of Blogging the Boys urges in a Friday, March 20 piece on Pickens’ contract.
Ochoa adds, “The first-round pick that Miami is receiving is 30th overall and that is clearly the main variable involved with the trade. If you are a Cowboys fan interested in trading George Pickens, who the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on this offseason, then it stands to reason that you would want a first-rounder involved.”