Cowboys Biggest Offseason Problem: Keep George Pickens in Dallas

8 snips

Feb 19, 2026

John Machota, a Cowboys insider at The Athletic, and Dan Popper, an NFL analyst who ranked the top 150 free agents, join to map the free-agency landscape. They debate quarterback market intrigue and Malik Willis’s climb. They dig into running back value, trench-building trends, and why interior defensive line and tackle scarcity reshape bids. They close by weighing Dallas’s Pickens situation, tag realities, and defensive priority targets.

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INSIGHT

Malik Willis Emerged As High-Upside Option

Malik Willis's week-17 tape showed elite arm strength, pocket manipulation, and game-changing off-platform playmaking.
Dan Popper projects a mid-market starter deal around two years ~$46M due to his upside and traits.

ADVICE

Prioritize Explosive Backs If Infrastructure Fits

Teams should consider paying for explosive "weapon" running backs when infrastructure (line, QB) exists to maximize impact.
Dan Popper highlights Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker and others as potential game-changers worth premium money.

INSIGHT

Win By Stacking Rotational Rushers

Seattle's model shows stacking varied edge and interior rushers and rotating them creates championship-level pass rush.
Popper credits Seattle/John Schneider for building a rotation that wins with four-man pressure.

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NFL free agency season is here, and today’s Scoop City is your roadmap to another wild offseason. Which teams will win the bidding wars for impact talent, where will the quarterback market land, and who’s ready to make the move that changes the 2026 season? Are the Dallas Cowboys about to swing big for a star, can the Miami Dolphins solve their QB problem, what should the Los Angeles Chargers prioritize, and which contender will own the trenches this spring?

James Palmer is joined by The Athletic’s Dan Popper to break down his massive ranking of the NFL’s top 150 free agents and what it tells us about where roster-building is headed. The conversation starts where every offseason starts: quarterback, and why Malik Willis might be the most fascinating name on the market once the contracts and leverage points come into focus.

Then the spotlight shifts to the running back market and why the NFL’s recent Super Bowl blueprint has teams recommitting to the ground game. The guys break down how “weapon backs” are changing the economics of the position, why explosiveness is becoming a premium trait, and how teams will weigh upside, durability, and role versatility when spending in free agency.

Next, it’s all about the trenches and how Seattle and New England reinforced a copycat trend that’s defining modern contenders. James and Dan walk through why quality offensive tackles rarely hit the market, why interior defensive linemen can tilt entire defenses, and how overspending on mid-tier linemen has become the fastest way to derail an offseason plan.

Finally, James is joined by The Athletic’s Cowboys insider John Machota to size up Dallas’ appetite for headline moves, starting with the George Pickens contract question and the reality of playing on a tag. They dig into the Cowboys’ defensive direction under new coordinator Christian Parker, what positions Dallas must target next, and whether a blockbuster like Maxx Crosby in a Cowboys jersey is even remotely possible.

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