Cowboys Mailbag: What happens with Pickens after signing the franchise tag?
Welcome to the Star-Telegram’s second edition of the Cowboys Mailbag, where we answer your burning Dallas Cowboys questions each week.
There are two ways to submit questions. You can reply to my weekly post on X asking for questions and maybe get an answer, or you can email me at nharris@star-telegram.com and guarantee a response!
In this second edition, we take a look at things post-draft to set the stage for the rest of the offseason.
Q: Now that George Pickens has signed the franchise tag, is it safe to assume that this offseason will be free of drama? - Robert J. from Aledo (submitted through email)
A: One thing about this team, it’s never safe to assume anything. I’ll say this. Signing the tag was a huge first step toward alignment between player and team. However, Pickens’ side is not satisfied, but I’m not sure that he has the same leverage that other players in years past have had (Parsons, Lamb, Martin, etc.). My prediction is that we haven’t seen the last of the posturing and maneuvering within this ordeal, but I still think this ends with him playing the season out on the tag and heading into next offseason with a “sign me or trade me” demand. I know some fans are worried about a potential trade this offseason. And while I would be the most foolish reporter ever to rule it out after covering what happened last year with Parsons, I just think this scenario is different.
Q: Has everyone made a big deal about linebackers when really the corner position is the most worrisome? - @Tjnolabels
A: I disagree. I think they have almost overcorrected the cornerback position. Adding a player like Cobie Durant in free agency was really underrated, in my opinion. He’s a ball-productive, versatile corner that can play outside or inside. And then, once you factor in that Caleb Downs will be playing in the slot, I think you have a recipe for some great training camp competition at the outside cornerback spots. I see where you’re coming from, though. The health of DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel Jr. is worrisome. But even if they both don’t make it back to full strength, they are already better in that room than they were last season (low bar, I know).
Q: What is the plan at LB? Can’t go into the season with just Dee Winters as the veteran. - @GaryHendri72
A: Yeah, I think you’re seeing the plan there. It sounds like there’s a lot of trust in Winters to come in and be that lead communicator, but I’d be surprised if there’s not another trusted veteran addition to the room before the start of the season -- even if it’s a post-training camp thing. If Winters goes down with an injury, that room is in big trouble. I don’t see Shemar James, Jaishawn Barham or Justin Barron stepping into that role opposite of DeMarvion Overshown. There’s just too much responsibility for those young guys. If you’re asking me, I would be signing Bobby Wagner yesterday if he will take $5.5 million.
Q: Michael Trigg is a bigger threat to Brevyn Spann-Ford or Luke Schoonmaker? - @ProfessorO_NFL
A: Considering Spann-Ford ended the season last year as the true backup tight end to Jake Ferguson, I think his spot is pretty safe going into 2026. For Schoonmaker though, this is a make-or-break camp for him, in my opinion. Not only is the receiving ability of Trigg going to be a big eye-catcher at camp, but fellow undrafted tight end D.J. Rogers out of TCU is going to give Schoonmaker a run for his spot on the depth chart just as much. The one advantage that Schoonmaker would have above Trigg is his blocking ability, but Rogers could beat him out in that domain, too.
Q: Does Devin Moore getting drafted affect Bland/Revel’s order on the depth chart at all? I fear if he has a good camp, someone’s going to get pushed down, most likely Revel due to Bland’s money situation. - @w34ksizzle
A: DaRon Bland’s starting job on the outside is safe -- health permitting. Shavon Revel Jr. on the other hand, I think he’s fighting for his job not only with Devin Moore but also with veteran addition Cobie Durant. With Caleb Downs in the slot, the competition on the outside is going to be heated. Revel will need to prove that he trusts his knee and has the same instincts and ball-ability that he had before the ACL injury in college. Moore comes in with a cleaner bill of health, at least in the last 12-to-18 months. And if that health supersedes the comfortability of what Revel has in his knee during training camp, then it wouldn’t surprise me if the rookie finishes on top.
Q: When will we get a definitive plan on what their plans are for Marist Liufau? They can’t be serious with trying to turn him into pass rusher. And am I tripping or did they imply in the press conference they’d consider him as an inside linebacker in a pinch? - @groove_sdc
A: Yeah, I’m with you on these points. First off, I think the move to outside linebacker for Liufau was more about exhausting every chance they have at finding a role for him, not necessarily because of the confidence that he can shine in that role. He was really lost in even the most basic of zone responsibilities in coverage last season, and it killed everyone’s confidence around him about his inside linebacker ability. Considering his athleticism still does shine, I think the outside linebacker role is more of an attempt to maximize that in hopes that a pass-rushing weapon can be unlocked in there. But after they selected Malachi Lawrence and added Jaishawn Barham, I’m not so sure that Liufau has a safe spot on the 53-man roster right now.
Q: Who did you have graded higher between Malachi Lawrence and Donovan Ezeiruaku coming out of college? What separates the two with how you graded them? - @DemCowboys27
A: Thank you for this question! In 2025, I had Ezeiruaku graded as my No. 13 overall player (first-round grade), and I had Lawrence graded as my No. 18 overall player this year (second-round grade). I loved Ezeiruaku’s motor and twitch slightly more, but it really was about splitting hairs. When it came to giving Ezeiruaku the edge of having the first-round grade, the production was higher, the late-game production showed up, and the run game tape was incredibly encouraging. To my surprise, the run game stuff showed up in his rookie season more than the pass rush side of things. I think with a more complete defense around him in year two, he should see that sack total increase as well. I think Lawrence will be confined to passing downs, at least early on, to maximize his pass rush while he develops with some of the run game knacks a player needs in the NFL.
