The Dallas Cowboys had seemingly already made their big trade. They got George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers to be their WR2 opposite CeeDee Lamb. It was a huge deal.
And then they blew that out of the water on Thursday when they traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
Really, the Parsons deal just makes the Pickens one feel more important. They brought in one star via a trade, then sent out another.
Do the Cowboys win the offseason, or do they lose it miserably? Much of that now hinges on Pickens.
Before the Parsons trade went down, ESPN's Ben Solak wrote, "The Pickens trade is one of many significant moves made this offseason, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is regarded as the single most impactful trade by the end of the campaign."
MORE: Brock Purdy is going to win MVP for the wildest Marquez Valdes-Scantling reason
The Cowboys haven't had a good secondary receiver in years.
"In 2022, tight end Dalton Schultz was second on the team in receiving with 577 yards; in 2023, it was tight end Jake Ferguson with 771 yards; and last year, it was wideout Jalen Tolbert with 610 yards," Solak writes.
They also haven't done a good job of trying to fill that role.
"Tolbert, a third-round pick in 2022, was one of a few missed investments at WR2," Solak writes. "The Cowboys also extended Michael Gallup (who was hurt and never came back healthy), signed an over-the-hill Brandin Cooks in free agency and traded for Jonathan Mingo, which hasn't worked out. Pickens is unquestionably the most talented running mate Lamb has had since prime (Amari) Cooper and has the capability of leading the Cowboys in targets any week."
MORE: Micah Parsons and Luka Doncic trades are horrifically similar
Solak goes on to compare the potential of Pickens-Lamb to that of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in Cincinnati along with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith in Philadelphia.
The Parsons trade could age poorly, or it could turn out OK.
Either way, the Cowboys' offseason won't just be defined by that, even if it feels that way. Pickens will have a lot to say in how Dallas is viewed as this season goes along.
MORE NFL NEWS:
- 49ers cut the son of an NFL Hall of Famer
- Bills unveil absolutely incredible 'Cold Front' uniforms
- There was a problem with the Cowboys' $202.5 million contract offer to Micah Parsons
- Titans land the NFL's most coveted player off waivers
- Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence reveal an offensive secret weapon
- Browns add a rookie free agent named Sanders to join Shedeur