Dan Graziano argues the Cowboys might hesitate to pay Pickens top-tier money, making a Crosby-for-Pickens swap appealing for both teams. The proposal would have Las Vegas gaining a productive, long-term receiver who could fit its rebuilding timeline, while Dallas would address wideout depth by landing Crosby to replace Micah Parsons in the short term and search for a supplementary No. 2 receiver elsewhere.
Graziano also contends the Raiders can afford to sign Pickens long-term, noting Las Vegas isn’t already paying another receiver at CeeDee Lamb’s level and that Pickens’ age (25 in March) aligns with the franchise’s timeline, alongside young talents such as Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.
Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson has echoed a Pickens-to-Las Vegas scenario, suggesting Crosby could be included in a trade and highlighting Mendoza, a potential No. 1-wideout prospect from Indiana, as part of a broader rebuild. Johnson argued that Pickens could thrive with a true number-one role in Las Vegas under a new coaching staff.
The trade chatter reflects ongoing questions about the Raiders’ wide receiver depth and how they might leverage high-value assets to accelerate their competitive window. While no deal is finalized, the discussions underscore the growing interest in pairing a proven edge defender with a rising No. 1 receiver to support the franchise’s long-term plan.
