Cowboys' Trades, Free-Agent Contracts Left NFL Execs 'Disappointed' amid George Pickens Rumors

Multiple rival NFL executives reportedly told The Athletic's Mike Sando they're unimpressed with the Dallas Cowboys' trades and signings so far this offseason.

The Cowboys' biggest moves have involved franchise tagging wide receiver George Pickens, acquiring edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers and trading defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers.

One executive told Sando about the Cowboys: "Dallas is one of those spin-your-wheels type teams that never really gets a lot better."

Another executive told Sando, "I was a little disappointed with Dallas. They got Rashan Gary, who Green Bay was not fired up about. They were not necessarily going to bring him back."

Gary posted a goodbye message to the Packers on Instagram in early March before later deleting the post. He was traded to the Cowboys 10 days later after agreeing to a pay cut as part of the deal.

After recording 7.5 sacks in each of his last two seasons, Gary could help bolster a pass rush that ranked 19th in the NFL with 35 total sacks last season.

There will still be some doubts about the unit heading into 2026 given the absence of Micah Parsons, who recorded 12.5 sacks in 14 games of his first season with the Packers in 2025.

Questions also linger surrounding the franchise's future with Pickens, with whom they have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal before both sides are locked into a one-year term under the $27.3 million non-exclusive franchise tag.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones recently said the franchise has "long-term plans" for Pickens, although ESPN's Todd Archer reported as of Monday the team hadn't discussed a multiyear contract with the wide receiver and are unsure if Pickens will attend offseason training.

The Cowboys have already committed more than $88 million in 2026 cap space paying Dak Prescott, Quinnen Williams and CeeDee Lamb, per Spotrac. Pickens playing under his franchise tag cap hit would further limit how much cap space Dallas has to make more roster additions.

Those salary restrictions could make it even more important that Jones and the Cowboys land on their eight picks in the upcoming draft. The Cowboys are currently slated to select at both No. 12 and No. 20 when the first round kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh.