Cowboys Bet on the Roster They Have: No Deadline Splash, No Calls on George Pickens, and the 7-1 49ers Next
Dallas stayed quiet at the trade deadline at 4-5, and ESPN's Adam Schefter says it was never close to anything big — including a George Pickens trade that never drew a single call, per reports. The Cowboys had already spent a 2028 second-rounder on cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and the test of standing pat starts Sunday against San Francisco.
The Dallas Cowboys let the trade deadline pass without a splash, betting that the roster sitting at 4-5 can make a late push over its remaining eight games to keep its NFC East and playoff hopes alive.
The name that drew the chatter was George Pickens, but the speculation never became a serious trade possibility — reports indicated Dallas received no calls from interested teams about the receiver, who remains a central part of Dak Prescott's passing attack alongside CeeDee Lamb. ESPN insider Adam Schefter, in remarks carried by Athlon Sports, said it never sounded like Dallas got close to making any big deals, and that he never sensed movement toward a Pickens trade or any other big Dallas move. Schefter added that the Cowboys believe they have the talent they need for a second-half push.
Dallas had already made its aggressive move earlier in the season, acquiring cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from Pittsburgh for a 2028 second-round pick to address a defensive need. On the field, the defense's recent form is part of the bet: Quinnen Williams has recorded four sacks and 10 tackles for loss over his last four games.
The verdict starts arriving Sunday. San Francisco comes in at 7-1 and has won its last four meetings with Dallas, including two playoff matchups — the kind of game in which standing pat either looks like confidence or like a missed chance.
