I like the Pickens trade, but I have one football-related red flag

Its mostly related to Pickens being a deep ball threat. The other 2 players are number 2 threats, more of a possession player and does not take the number of deep balls Pickens has. That will always result in low completion percentages.
 
StarOfGlory said:
If Pickens can become what Tee Higgins or DeVonta Smith is, the trade will be excellent. The one red flag I have relating to football is his catch percentage. A top-tier #2 should have a high catch percentage, showing the defense that he is more of a threat. Pickens has three years into his career, and his catch percentage has decreased every year, unlike Higgins and Smith.

Tee Higgins:
2020-62%
2021-67.3%
2022-67.9%
2023-55.3%
2024-67%
Five-year average: 64.5%

DeVonta Smith:
2021-61.5%
2022-69.9%
2023-72.3%
2024-76.4%
Four-year average: 69.8%

George Pickens:
2022: 61.9%
2023: 59.4%
2024: 57.3%
Three-year average: 59.4%

I know Pickens had to operate as the #1 in Pittsburgh, so that may or may not affect his stats in ways you think. But any way you slice it, that is not a good percentage. To put this into perspective, here are the #1's for Higgins and Smith. Ja'Marr Chase catches at 67.9% average, AJ Brown's last two years in Philly are 68.1%. CeeDee's five-year average is 68.9%. Pickens should be able to have a catch percentage around 66%.

I already see people posting that we have a top five one-two duo in the league. For that to be a solid truth, Pickens should get his catch percentage up to Smith or Higgins level, or at least in the same neighborhood.

He has the talent to do so. Can he keep his head on straight and do it with Dak and our coaching staff? I can't wait to find out the answer to this question. If so, I think we make the playoffs.
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Didn’t take long for someone to come up with nit picking stats to further an agenda.
 
5Stars said:
Not to burst your bubble, but trying to go back six years when Dak was a little younger and not as hurt as he is now does not make the case that Dak is still the same player. He won't last the whole season at his rate of injuries lately.
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Boom right on queue one of the leaders of the Dak Haters Club trying to change the thread into a Dak hate thread. Dak, Dak, Dak!
 
montgod said:
Yeah probably coincides with the QB that was throwing him the ball - that formidable Steeler qb carousel.
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Catch pct doesn’t really reflect much to me. If you are targeted and covered it counts against you. If it’s over thrown. Drops pct is impirtant and he hasn’t had a big issue with drops in his career though had some last year. A stat that shows just catchable balls woukd be impirtant but somewhat subjective
 
StarOfGlory said:
I also didn't mention good #2's like Addison or Waddle playing with Darnold, Tua, and whoever comes in for Tua when he gets a concussion. The only joke is you not understanding the post. There are good receivers that put up good numbers with very average QB's. Always has been, and always will.
Click to expand...
the real joke is you trying to claim QB play does not matter
 
The QB's in Pittsburgh aren't Burrow or Hurts...and he wasn't playing alongside Brown or Smith. He was operating as a #1 from the jump, with subpar QB play.
The Steelers ranked 23rd in total offense last year...or roughly 6 spots behind the Cowboys. My concern is that he's not too much of a knucklehead, and not crazy about the 3rd.
 
StarOfGlory said:
If Pickens can become what Tee Higgins or DeVonta Smith is, the trade will be excellent. The one red flag I have relating to football is his catch percentage. A top-tier #2 should have a high catch percentage, showing the defense that he is more of a threat. Pickens has three years into his career, and his catch percentage has decreased every year, unlike Higgins and Smith.

Tee Higgins:
2020-62%
2021-67.3%
2022-67.9%
2023-55.3%
2024-67%
Five-year average: 64.5%

DeVonta Smith:
2021-61.5%
2022-69.9%
2023-72.3%
2024-76.4%
Four-year average: 69.8%

George Pickens:
2022: 61.9%
2023: 59.4%
2024: 57.3%
Three-year average: 59.4%

I know Pickens had to operate as the #1 in Pittsburgh, so that may or may not affect his stats in ways you think. But any way you slice it, that is not a good percentage. To put this into perspective, here are the #1's for Higgins and Smith. Ja'Marr Chase catches at 67.9% average, AJ Brown's last two years in Philly are 68.1%. CeeDee's five-year average is 68.9%. Pickens should be able to have a catch percentage around 66%.

I already see people posting that we have a top five one-two duo in the league. For that to be a solid truth, Pickens should get his catch percentage up to Smith or Higgins level, or at least in the same neighborhood.

He has the talent to do so. Can he keep his head on straight and do it with Dak and our coaching staff? I can't wait to find out the answer to this question. If so, I think we make the playoffs.
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They are a “top five one-two duo in the league”. I imagine Pickens will demand to be paid accordingly.
 
ccb04 said:
The QB's in Pittsburgh aren't Burrow or Hurts...and he wasn't playing alongside Brown or Smith. He was operating as a #1 from the jump, with subpar QB play.
The Steelers ranked 23rd in total offense last year...or roughly 6 spots behind the Cowboys. My concern is that he's not too much of a knucklehead, and not crazy about the 3rd.
Click to expand...
My #1 concern for sure.
 
beware_d-ware said:
I'd side with Pickens in this case. He was Pittsburgh's #1 receiver while Higgins and Smith got to operate as #2s, and Higgins and Smith both had way better QB situations than Pittsburgh's clown car.

On the football field, I really like this move. CeeDee is a high-volume target hog #1, so Pickens is just fine as a low-volume deep threat #2. Our offense needed more explosiveness in the worst way. Dak throws a good deep ball, so he can maximize Pickens. A 3rd rounder for a one-year rental is a very reasonable trade price, give how expensive WRs are.

But off the football field though, this is everything that's wrong with the Cowboys organization and is why we continue to lose. Schottenheimer gives all this rah-rah talk about character and leadership, and Jerry just trades for a head case anyway, completely undermining his new head coach and ensuring that no one will take him seriously.

Then this head case is going to want a $100M contract in 9 months. Jerry is re-making the same mistake he did with Cooper by not paying Pickens up front, and this contract negotiation is going to go the same way that Cowboys deals always go. Jerry is going to wait until the last minute next spring, then cave and pay Pickens top dollar as long as Pickens plays even halfway OK this season. Why the team doesn't use that same money to extend Tyler Smith right now is a mystery to me.

My problems with this trade are really less about Pickens and more about Jerry.
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I agree with what you said about jerry and contracts, and hopefully all that doesnt go the usual way !
But we dont know if shotty wanted pickens or not !
What if he wanted him and was behind the whole trade ?? That changes things in a big way.
I read here that Shotty coached pickens at Georgia, so he would know him, and it is possible
he told jerry get this guy for me.
 
ccb04 said:
The QB's in Pittsburgh aren't Burrow or Hurts...and he wasn't playing alongside Brown or Smith. He was operating as a #1 from the jump, with subpar QB play.
The Steelers ranked 23rd in total offense last year...or roughly 6 spots behind the Cowboys. My concern is that he's not too much of a knucklehead, and not crazy about the 3rd.
Click to expand...
Meant Brown or Chase.
 
beware_d-ware said:
I'd side with Pickens in this case. He was Pittsburgh's #1 receiver while Higgins and Smith got to operate as #2s, and Higgins and Smith both had way better QB situations than Pittsburgh's clown car.

On the football field, I really like this move. CeeDee is a high-volume target hog #1, so Pickens is just fine as a low-volume deep threat #2. Our offense needed more explosiveness in the worst way. Dak throws a good deep ball, so he can maximize Pickens. A 3rd rounder for a one-year rental is a very reasonable trade price, give how expensive WRs are.

But off the football field though, this is everything that's wrong with the Cowboys organization and is why we continue to lose. Schottenheimer gives all this rah-rah talk about character and leadership, and Jerry just trades for a head case anyway, completely undermining his new head coach and ensuring that no one will take him seriously.

Then this head case is going to want a $100M contract in 9 months. Jerry is re-making the same mistake he did with Cooper by not paying Pickens up front, and this contract negotiation is going to go the same way that Cowboys deals always go. Jerry is going to wait until the last minute next spring, then cave and pay Pickens top dollar as long as Pickens plays even halfway OK this season. Why the team doesn't use that same money to extend Tyler Smith right now is a mystery to me.

My problems with this trade are really less about Pickens and more about Jerry.
Click to expand...
My prediction is if Pickens balls out the first half or so of the season, the Cowboys will try and preemptively resign him instead of letting him hit the open market. If he’s not much of a difference maker, they’ll let him walk and recoup the comp pick.
 
America's Cowboy said:
Dak always excels on deep throws when he has 2 good weapons at wide receiver. Look at 2019 when he had Amari Cooper and young Michael Gallup (before CeeDee was drafted). That was Dak's best throwing season (4,902 passing yards) and he excelled on his deep throws.

Screenshot-20250507-134309-Photos.jpg


Dak should be able to get back to completing good deep throws now that he has two very good WR weapons in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

:thumbup:

PS: What Jerry Jones should do is go sign UDFA WR Isaiah Bond right now. That guy is a separation freak on the field. Him and Turpin would tear things up underneath. No defense would be able to stop our passing threat of CeeDee, Pickens, Turpin and Bond.
Click to expand...
What did last year look like? We are dealing with old and breaking down Dak now
 
StarOfGlory said:
If Pickens can become what Tee Higgins or DeVonta Smith is, the trade will be excellent. The one red flag I have relating to football is his catch percentage. A top-tier #2 should have a high catch percentage, showing the defense that he is more of a threat. Pickens has three years into his career, and his catch percentage has decreased every year, unlike Higgins and Smith.

Tee Higgins:
2020-62%
2021-67.3%
2022-67.9%
2023-55.3%
2024-67%
Five-year average: 64.5%

DeVonta Smith:
2021-61.5%
2022-69.9%
2023-72.3%
2024-76.4%
Four-year average: 69.8%

George Pickens:
2022: 61.9%
2023: 59.4%
2024: 57.3%
Three-year average: 59.4%

I know Pickens had to operate as the #1 in Pittsburgh, so that may or may not affect his stats in ways you think. But any way you slice it, that is not a good percentage. To put this into perspective, here are the #1's for Higgins and Smith. Ja'Marr Chase catches at 67.9% average, AJ Brown's last two years in Philly are 68.1%. CeeDee's five-year average is 68.9%. Pickens should be able to have a catch percentage around 66%.

I already see people posting that we have a top five one-two duo in the league. For that to be a solid truth, Pickens should get his catch percentage up to Smith or Higgins level, or at least in the same neighborhood.

He has the talent to do so. Can he keep his head on straight and do it with Dak and our coaching staff? I can't wait to find out the answer to this question. If so, I think we make the playoffs.
Click to expand...
Without reading your entire post, it remained easy to ask: who was throwing him the ball?
 
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