Cowboys trade rumor from Ian Rapoport is good news for Bills, Broncos, Chiefs, Patriots

Cowboys trade rumor from Ian Rapoport is good news for Bills, Broncos, Chiefs, Patriots originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys are expected to use the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, but there's still a chance he plays for a new team in 2026.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys could look to trade Pickens on the franchise tag.

"The Cowboys are going to franchise tag him [Pickens]. However, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll stay in Dallas. My understanding is that a tag-and-trade scenario is considered a possibility for Dallas."

If Dallas can't reach an agreement on a long-term deal with Pickens, trading him on the franchise tag and getting some valuable back would be a possible avenue they could take.

The Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and New England Patriots are receiver-needy contenders who could be trade partners for the Cowboys in a deal involving Pickens.

Buffalo and Kansas City don't have a true No. 1 receiver on the perimeter for their franchise quarterbacks, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Adding Pickens would add an explosive element to both those offenses, which were lacking in 2025.

Denver and New England have a legitimate top receiver, as the Patriots have Stefon Diggs, while Courtland Sutton is also under contract for multiple more years with the Broncos.

However, both teams' pass-catching groups could still be better, so Pickens makes sense as a fit for Denver and New England.

Despite the noise, Pickens will likely stay in Dallas for the 2026 season and chase a major payday in 2027. But there's still a chance the Cowboys trade him, and if that occurs, the Bills, Broncos, Chiefs, and Patriots should have offers ready for the Georgia product.