The Dallas Cowboys‘ offseason focus will no doubt be the state of the defense, which ranked 30th in total yards allowed and dead last in points allowed in 2025.
However, one snag that the other side of the ball could run into this spring is the current state of their cap situation.
The Cowboys’ offense was as good as any this past season, ranking second in total offense (yards) and sixth in scoring offense (points), whilst quarterback Dak Prescott returned to his pre-2024 form. He posted 4,552 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions at a completion rate of 67.3% on the season, for a 99.5 passer rating.
And one of the reasons for that has been the emergence of George Pickens, who has made a huge impact since being acquired from the Steelers last offseason for a third round pick.
Pickens made the second-team All-Pro in 2025 is set for a sky-high payday in 2026. The only problem is that the Cowboys are currently over $32 million above the salary cap, per Spotrac. Even if the team makes the common-sense move to cut defensive tackle, Kenny Clark, the team will still be over $10 million in the red heading into the offseason.
The Cowboys May Be Priced Out of a Pickens Extension
So, in the event that Dallas is unable to financially justify giving Pickens a new deal or franchise-tagging him, the team will no doubt be on the look for another receiver to act as a complement to CeeDee Lamb, and help revive that so successful one-two punch of the Cowboys’ passing offense in 2025.
One slightly out-of-the-box name that Jerry Jones and co. could consider is San Francisco 49ers wideout, Brandon Aiyuk.
Aiyuk had his Niners contract voided in November for failing to show up to team meetings and practice, and was subsequently placed on the reserve/left team list for the remainder of the season.
And speaking today, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch made it abundantly clear that the former second-team All-Pro will not be returning to the franchise.
“I think it’s safe to say that he’s played his last snap with the Niners,” Lynch said on Wednesday. “It’s unfortunate. A situation that just went awry. And I will look long and hard at what could have been done differently, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. And I think that this was a case where that happened.”
Brandon Aiyuk Makes Sense as a Fit in Dallas
Although it is not clear if San Francisco intend to release or trade, Aiyuk will be on the market in some capacity this offseason, that is for sure.
After injury and sudden avoidant behaviour, there will not be a queue of teams lining up to give the former Arizona State man another $100 million anytime soon. So his price point for the Cowboys’ front office should be substantially more budget-friendly than any deal which could be done for Pickens.
And the Cowboys have experience dealing and taking a chance on players who are deemed tenuous by other organizations, or who have various off-the-field issues. Sometimes it does not work out, but other times they hit the jackpot – like in the case with Pickens this past summer.
It is not even clear at this point if Aiyuk even intends to come back to football, or what his status is for 2026. But if the team loses Pickens, and Aiyuk decides to return to the league, Dallas makes about as much sense as anyone.
Cowboys Proposal Has Them Move For All-Pro George Pickens Replacement