Cowboys COO Stephen Jones addressed the rumors directly on 105.3 The Fan and was unambiguous.
"You hate to get into things like that, but no, we've had no one call with interest in George Pickens," Jones said.
That statement arrives after Jones was equally direct at last week's NFL Draft, when he said the Cowboys have "zero intention" of moving their Pro Bowl receiver.
🚨🚨 #Cowboys star WR George Pickens and his agent David Mulugheta gauged the trade market before signing the 1-year/$27.3M franchise tender to see if another team was willing to give him a long-term extension this offseason #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/P8w1Anybdk
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) May 4, 2026
"We have no intention of moving George. We're fired up about him signing his tag, because it means he's ready to come in here and get to work."
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer reinforced the same message at rookie minicamp over the weekend, confirming that Dallas has not had any trade conversations with Pickens or his representatives, adding that he was not surprised the receiver signed his franchise tender as early as he did.
Pickens officially signed the tag on April 29, guaranteeing himself $27.3 million for the 2026 season and obligating himself to attend mandatory minicamp in June and training camp in July.
Why the Trade Rumors Existed
Pickens was a second-team All-Pro in his debut Dallas season, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, and rewarded the Cowboys' decision to trade for him from Pittsburgh.
The Cowboys have simultaneously made clear they will not negotiate a long-term extension this summer, pointing to the July 15 deadline and simply stating the new deal discussion is postponed until after the season.
That combination, a franchise-tagged receiver with no extension talks and a team also carrying CeeDee Lamb's large contract, created the financial optics that typically generate trade speculation.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Pickens did at least gauge the trade market briefly before signing his tag, making calls to understand what potential compensation and a new deal could look like.
To recap:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 23, 2026
• The Cowboys on Wednesday announced they want George Pickens to play on the tag.
• At that point, Pickens hadn’t signed it yet, which meant he technically didn’t have to show up until the regular season.
• Hours before the draft, he signs it—putting him under… https://t.co/nWr4192vQ0
He found nothing worth pursuing and consequently signed the tag.
Jerry Jones said at the Annual League Meeting the club has "long-term plans" for Pickens. Schottenheimer has said publicly that he and Dak Prescott have been training together and that Pickens looks great.
The message from every level of the organization is the same.
Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
