The Pickens leaving the Cowboys stories are coming thick and fast, folks.
The Dallas Cowboys and their contract situation with George Pickens is, as expected, set to be daily headline news.
Thanks to our own Mike Fisher and his sources, we have known since November 27 that the Cowboys planned to place the franchise tag on George. So nothing new there.
But the tag isn't final. It is more of a placeholder while both sides look to thrash out a deal that would see Pickens, as Jerry Jones stated, be a "Cowboy for a long time."
However, the Cowboys and star players with big upcoming contracts don't exactly mix too well, and the Micah Parsons trade is still very fresh in our minds.
So, despite all the positive things said about Pickens and both sides wanting to stay together, we all know it doesn't take much to upset the apple cart and for things to go south in a hurry.
But that won't happen with Pickens, right? Unfortunately, the Cowboys don't get the benefit of the doubt here. And until they prove otherwise, every fan will be nervous until George puts pen to paper on either the tag or a long-term deal.
However, CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani, in his 10 crazy offseason scenarios, has Pickens being traded to the Denver Broncos, for...a second-round pick.
“Jerry Jones and Co. didn't learn from the Micah Parsons saga, as we predict another dramatic standoff is in store for Dallas this offseason," Dajani writes. "Pickens requests a trade as the public spectacle intensifies.
"That's when the Broncos swoop in and give the Cowboys a second-round pick for the wideout, then sign Pickens to a multi-year extension that pays him an average of $31 million per year.”
Right, let's tap the brakes here.
First of all, if the Cowboys were to trade Pickens, I'm fairly sure that a lot more than a second-round pick would be needed to come back the other way.
And secondly, a $31 million deal? They would likely appeal to the Cowboys as well.
Fisher has stated that if Pickens were to be dealt this offseason, the Dallas football department would have an aneurysm. So people inside the building know how valuable Pickens is.
The "trading Pickens" noise has been getting significantly louder over the past 48 hours, and that won't go away until George's long-term future is secured.
But a second-round pick only for Pickens? After his 2025 season? That won't get it done.