Cowboys' Key Offseason Challenge: Retain George Pickens 🏈

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.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications…

Get in on the conversation. Tell us which team has to be aggressive this offseason to turn things around in 2026?

#nflfreeagency #cowboys #nfl #nflnews

00:00 - Intro
02:25 - Top 150 Free Agents List: QBs
14:50 - Top 150 Free Agents List: RBs
23:30 - Seahawks Free Agents
37:30 - Cowboys Offseason Questions: George Pickens
44:14 - Cowboys Offseason Questions: Maxx Crosby

🎧 Listen to full episodes of the podcast here - https://theathletic.lnk.to/scoopYT

Season 1 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZiIxpfZM2HxQ6WjGwL98AxJ6qBEfj52K

Check out the Scoop City Newsletter!
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/newsletters/scoop-city/
Shorts Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZiIxpfZM2Hw-AlbEXFuRNwakZYk_gpMA