The 2025 NFL season didn’t go the way the Washington Commanders would have hoped.
After making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season, the Commanders took a major step backwards this season. At 4-11 they’ve already been eliminated from playoff contention, and second-year quarterback Jaden Daniels was plagued by injury issues throughout the season.
The Commanders will look to retool over the offseason and that could include adding more offensive weapons for Daniels to have at his disposal. One potential target for Washington could be Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, who was named to his first Pro Bowl this season.
Could Commanders steal star receiver away from Cowboys?
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report recently named Washington as a top potential landing spot for Pickens should Dallas opt not to re-sign him or use the franchise tag on him over the offseason. Washington’s need for more playmaking was cited as the main rationale.
“With second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels on a rookie deal, Washington should load up on talent around him,” Moton wrote. “… Daniels is coming off an injury-riddled down year in which he threw for eight touchdowns and three interceptions with a 60.6 percent completion rate in seven games.
"Washington can help him get back on the right track by adding a receiver who can consistently make explosive plays. … Pickens can grow along with Daniels and learn from [Terry] McLaurin, a seventh-year veteran.”
The Commanders are projected to have the fifth-most cap space in the league over the offseason, so theoretically they could probably afford to sign Pickens to a major deal. He and Daniels could potentially form one heck of a duo. However, they also have other needs.
Washington will want to strengthen the offensive line in front of Daniels in an effort to keep him upright and healthy as possible, plus the defense could use some upgrades. If they spend too much money on one skill position player, making the other necessary upgrades will become difficult.
So, even if Pickens becomes available, which seems unlikely, there’s no guarantee that the Commanders would want to shell out the big bucks for the productive but seemingly mercurial pass-catcher, though stealing him away from the division-rival Cowboys could be fun to fantasize about for Commanders fans.