Cowboys’ Pursuit of AFC North WR Confirmed Despite Public Blowback

For weeks, we floated the possibility that the Cowboys’ draft strategy might include a pre-draft move involving a veteran AFC North receiver. It wasn’t just speculation — it was reading the tea leaves, connecting the dots between Pittsburgh’s open shopping of George Pickens, Dallas’ WR2 need, and the Cowboys' historical appetite for strategic trade-backs.

And then, in the hours leading up to the NFL Draft, CowboysCountry.com reported that Dallas was "making and taking'' trade calls with its eye on acquiring a veteran wideout.

And then Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke up and essentially confirmed all of the things we'd been reporting. ... late in the weekend saying of somehow, someway filling this void ...

"The train has not left the station.''

National media didn't take too kindly to the pre-Draft puzzle pieces we put together in our hypothetical sandbox. Our work even garnered some rather snippy "fake news" remarks from a few highly prominent members of NFL media. 

But nothing was ever reported as imminent and our scoops on what was happening were properly and carefully framed. Nothing "fake'' about any of it.

In some cases, we were simply connecting some dots in a creative way. 

In other cases, CowboysCountry.com had, and has, information.

Now, thanks to ESPN’s Todd Archer, we have confirmation of pretty much what we'd said: Dallas actively pursued in trade a veteran wide receiver from an AFC North team before the draft. Nothing ultimately materialized, but the attempt was real.

George Pickens of the Steelers, right?

We've continued to gather intel. On Monday, our Mike Fisher is reporting that Dallas still covets a "George Pickens-like'' receiver. (Wonder who that might be?)

We have also used sources and logic to come up with other names in a wide-net look at ideas.

There was the puzzle-piece trade ...

And this wasn’t just a fun Twitter theory. The Cowboys — facing multiple roster needs — likely hoped to execute a perfect two-for-one: trade down from pick 12, acquire Pickens, and add another first-round rookie in the process. It would have been vintage Cowboys — maintaining draft capital while filling an explosive need.

That worked for guys like Pickens, Denver's Courtland Sutton and Detroit's Jameson Williams.

When ESPN writes of "an AFC North receiver,'' could it have been referencing another name? Maybe. Cedric Tillman? Andre Iosivas? Rashod Bateman? Theoretically yes. 

But none of those players fit the “explosive” and "veteran" tags that COO Stephen Jones has openly mentioned - not  like Pickens does.

We've also reported exclusively on why Pickens is "upset'' with the Steelers and their very public flirtation with trading him.

And again, to that wide net ...

Now there's a report that Dallas has "growing interest'' in Amari Cooper. Fish, though, writes, that he's in the same category he's been in all offseason, way below the likes of Keenan Allen but right there with Elijah Moore and Robert Woods (who just signed with the Steelers) and Dionte Johnson (who just signed with the Browns) and Nelson Agholor and other "JAGs.''

Want Odell Beckham or D.J. Chark or Tyler Boyd?

We can also check out the rosters in Chicago and Indy and Tampa Bay. Are they overloaded with receivers? Should Dallas call on the Colts' Michael Pittman or Alec Pierce or the Bucs' Jalen McMillan?

How deep do we want to go here? How about in-trouble Texas Longhorns speedster Isaiah Bond? How about the in-trouble Miami star Tyreek Hill?

To repeat the central point: 

For those of us who are scrambling to stay ahead of the curve, today’s ESPN confirmation of our story isn’t a surprise.

And really, it’d be validation. ... if that's what we were seeking.

But actually, all we are seeking is some fun truths.

Meanwhile, what Dallas should be seeking is that elusive "explosive No. 2 receiver.''