Cowboys 26-year-old breakout candidate could push George Pickens out of Dallas in 2027

George Pickens is set to return for his second season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2026, but there are still many question marks surrounding his future.

Pickens will play the upcoming season on the franchise tag, as the Cowboys have no plans to extend him before then, meaning the star receiver will hit the free agency market next spring unless a deal materializes mid-season.

Though Pickens is coming off a breakout season in 2025 with 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 93 receptions, the Georgia product could be on his way out of Dallas after 2026, because the team may already have his replacement on the roster.

Ryan Flournoy break out could lead to Pickens' exit

Ryan Flournoy was a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft who has developed into a solid contributor for the Cowboys through two seasons.

The Central Missouri State product tallied 102 yards in 11 games during his rookie campaign, but in 2025, Flournoy showed a ton of growth, posting 40 receptions for 475 yards and four touchdowns as Dallas's No. 3 receiver.

Heading into 2026, Flournoy will return as the Cowboys' No. 3 wide receiver behind CeeDee Lamb and Pickens. However, the hype around the 26-year-old is incredibly high, which raises the question of whether Dallas would let Pickens walk in 2027 free agency if Flournoy impresses this year.

Flournoy will also hit free agency next offseason, but he will be restricted, meaning the Cowboys can extend a one-year tender offer to the young receiver and match any deal that comes his way from another team.

Nevertheless, even if he has a breakout season, Flournoy will be cheaper to bring back than Pickens, who figures to land a deal worth over $35 million per year if he turns in another successful year.

So, there's a scenario next offseason in which the Cowboys re-sign Flournoy to be the No. 2 receiver on a team-friendly deal and let Pickens walk, saving a ton of money. With that extra cap space, Dallas could focus on bolstering other positions instead of paying another receiver top-of-the-market money, as Lamb is already the fourth-highest-paid receiver in the league.

Obviously, this scenario heavily weighs on whether Flournoy can show that he can step into a WR2 role and replace Pickens. But with the Cowboys set to return as one of the top passing offenses in football, the sixth-round pick should have his opportunities.