The Dallas Cowboys needed a shot in the arm this offseason. The proud franchise had a rough 2024, and team owner and general manager Jerry Jones knew his offense needed more weapons, so the team traded for George Pickens.
Pickens is a big addition for Dallas, but one NFL insider recently reported that the Cowboys had the framework of a trade ready for another receiver.
Insider Says Jerry Jones, Cowboys Had Trade in Place for Rashod Bateman
The Cowboys’ offense was a mess last season, losing Dak Prescott in Week 9, and finishing 23rd in PFSN’s Offense+ metric. Prescott struggled when he was healthy, but the offense floundered without him, ranking 28th in passing success rate and 29th in EPA per dropback.
Brian Schottenheimer has now been promoted to head coach, and he takes over a Dallas team that disappointingly finished 7-10 after three straight trips to the postseason.
Last season, CeeDee Lamb “regressed” to 101 receptions, 1,194 yards, and six touchdowns after being a first-team All-Pro in 2023. Prescott’s injury has a direct correlation to this, and Lamb lobbied for Jones to find him a worthy running mate this offseason.
That resulted in the Pickens trade, but ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported that the Cowboys tried to trade for Baltimore Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman. Dallas reportedly had the framework of a deal in place, but Baltimore ended up signing Bateman to a three-year extension.
How trade talks helped spark a Rashod Bateman extension in Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/5sQfD8beY4
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 7, 2025
Fowler tweeted a clip of his report from “NFL Live” where he said, “What led to his contract extension is that he was almost traded during this offseason. He went to the Ravens, wanted a new deal, they simply said no. But they gave him permission to seek a trade. So, he went out on the open market, talked to teams, and I was told there were several involved or had interest.
“The Dallas Cowboys, the New England Patriots, the Green Bay Packers. So he saw he had a market. The Ravens saw that and said, ‘Ok, we’ll just pay you instead. We won’t trade you.'”
Bateman Could Have Helped Cowboys, but Ravens Hold Onto WR With Big Extension
Bateman was a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and had a breakout season in 2024. He posted 45 receptions and had career highs in yards (756) and touchdowns (9).
Lamar Jackson is the offensive focus in Baltimore, but Bateman’s yardage total was second behind Zay Flowers. The four-year veteran has been a bigger part of the Ravens’ offense each season, and Baltimore rewarded him with his second extension in as many years.
Bateman signed a three-year, $12.87 million deal last offseason and recently inked another three-year extension for $36.75 million.
In Dallas, Bateman would have been a good fit opposite Lamb, where Jalen Tolbert was WR2 behind Lamb last season. Yet, the Ravens denied Jones and the Cowboys the trade by taking care of their receiver. As a result, Dallas will have to press on with Lamb and Pickens on the outside in 2025.