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Jerry Jones gestures during Stephen A. Smith Broadcasts His SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio Show Live at Texas Live! on November 3, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have made quite a few moves throughout the 2026 NFL offseason thus far, but none of them have been the franchise-changing blockbuster that fans were expecting to see.
Despite the lack of a game-changing move for the Cowboys, they have been busy. One situation worth continued monitoring has to do with the future of star wide receiver George Pickens.
Early this offseason, Dallas made the decision to place the franchise tag on Pickens. If he plays out the 2026 NFL season on the tag, Pickens would make just under $27.3 million. However, there have been rumblings that he doesn’t want to play on the tag.
It’s possible the Cowboys could still look to work out a long-term contract with Pickens before the 2026 season arrives. Or, he could end up being too expensive for the team to keep long-term with CeeDee Lamb already making big money on his deal.
Keeping that in mind, Dallas has been linked to a dynamic wide receiver who could end up being a long-term replacement for Pickens.
Dallas Cowboys Linked to Potentially Adding Dynamic Wide Receiver
CBS Sports analyst Josh Edwards has revealed a new 2026 NFL mock draft. With the No. 20 overall pick in the first round, he has projected the Cowboys to take standout USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Here is what Edwards had to say about the prediction, where he also notes Lemon being a possible replacement option for either Pickens or Lamb in the future.
“Another wide receiver may seem like overkill, but the team is being aggressive with the additions of Quinnen Williams and Rashan Gary,” Edwards wrote. “Makai Lemon gives them another slot element and allows them to move some of the chess pieces around the board, but he also provides insurance and creates a potential off-ramp if CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens becomes too expensive.”
Taking a Closer Look at What Makai Lemon Brings to the Field
During the 2025 college football season with the Trojans, Lemon racked up 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Those numbers came after a 2024 season that saw him catch 52 passes for 764 yards and three scores.
Standing in at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Lemon projects to be more of a slot wideout at the NFL level. He could play on the outside, but his size could limit him somewhat.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has revealed his professional comparison for Lemon. He thinks the USC wide receiver compares favorably to Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown.
That comparison is obviously high praise for Lemon. If Dallas was to take Lemon in the first round and he were to develop to being a St. Brown type of player, the Cowboys would open up multiple valuable future options at wide receiver.
It’s just a prediction and the NFL Draft is still over a month away, but Lemon could be a name worth monitoring for Dallas fans.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
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