Former Chiefs player suggests Andy Reid sign George Pickens amid the Cowboys' hesitation – and Tyreek Hill won't agree

The Kansas City Chiefs could have an opportunity to address its struggling receiving corps, with Tyrann Mathieu identifying the Dallas Cowboys ’ George Pickens as a potential game-changing addition for Patrick Mahomes . The Chiefs have been searching for answers to their offensive struggles, and the team's former safety believes the solution could be found in Dallas , where Pickens ' long-term future with the Cowboys uncertain.

Dallas committed $27.3 million to the receiver through the franchise tag for the 2026 season, but that has not settled questions about his future beyond the current campaign. And with negotiations yet to provide long-term certainty, the possibility of a trade has become an increasingly interesting storyline, prompting Mathieu to urge Andy Reid to pursue the talented player. “If I’m the Chiefs, I want to go get somebody like George Pickens. I need somebody with that kind of catch radius,” Mathieu said on his podcast. “And then like those 50-50 balls, like them one-on-one chances. “Like, we don’t see Mahomes like take a lot of those throws because he don’t have nobody to throw it to. You know what I’m saying? And so now if he got somebody that could win those plays, you know what I’m saying, 40-50 yards down the field. “Like that instantly makes him like rise - not even from like a statistical perspective, like they need some swagger. Since Tyreek Hill left, they don’t really have a swagger. Like they don’t got no identity, right? “You know what I’m saying? Like, and I think when you have somebody like George Pickens, like and that you’re gonna have to throw him the ball.”

Chiefs' receiving problems make Pickens an attractive target

Pickens would represent a significant acquisition for Kansas City after recording 1429 yards on 93 catches and nine touchdowns during the 2025 NFL season , despite competing with CeeDee Lamb for snaps. Mathieu 's argument also extends beyond statistics, with the former safety believing Kansas City has lost its offensive identity since trading Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins in 2022. The Chiefs ' numbers support those concerns, ranking 27th in receptions, 30th in receiving yards and 31st in percentage of team receiving production. Their most reliable target remains 37-year-old tight end Travis Kelce . Opponents have also increasingly challenged Mahomes through the air, with the Seattle Seahawks and Broncos stacking the box and limiting Kansas City 's running game and putting the quarterback under extended pressure. Pickens is not the only potential target, with Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs and Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Brian Thomas Jr. also linked. However, Hill remains the most intriguing possibility. Kansas City reportedly contacted his agent, Drew Rosenhaus , in October to explore a reunion as Hill spent six seasons with the Chiefs between 2016 and 2021, earning six Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro honors. After helping the franchise win Super Bowl LIV, Kansas City later t raded him following unsuccessful contract negotiations, but the Dolphins released Hill in February 2026, but his return has been complicated by a serious knee injury. He remains a free agent.