Cowboys Wire: The Cowboys' Five Options with Pickens

[BotchedLobotomy]

You are right and I’m wrong

This may be the first time these words have ever been spoken in the Zone.

Historic Day!

 

[jterrell]

Agree with the logic in the tag strategy, but I’m not so sure it would work. Who exactly is giving up a pair of ones and also pay Pickens immediately?

One can figure it would determine his market value, but the agent will argue the compensation is why the offers aren’t higher, or there at all.

They need to either get it done quickly or let him go. The Micah act from last year was enough. Not again please.

It’s gonna cost, but they’ve gotta figure it out for a change. All these years of being cap frugal yet they are still up against it and have won nothing. How nice.

If someone wants to pay him and offer us less than two R1 to pull the tag they can.

It also lets the agent not to be named go and set his over market value.

We either pay him 28M for 1 year, get a long-term deal, trade him for less than two R1s, accept the two R1s on an offer he signs, or we match.

Ultimately, you can't lose in that scenario, and it all starts the same place. Tender him non-exclusive rights.

 

[visionary]

Negotiations with his agent will create even more acrimony
He wants top 3 WR money and we absolutely should not pay it

NEFT and give agent the option to find a partner is a no brainer that i have said for months

 

[Hawkeye19]

95% confident JJ and SJ will take the lazy route and that this will end with the franchise tag for him bc they “are working on a long term deal” and “hope to get things worked out”

 

[shabazz]

You don’t go to the Lamborghini dealership and ask them to sell it to you for a Corvette price.

Agree for sure, but from a fans point of view, if he's not here, our next in line receiver is somewhere between a Pinto and a Vega.

A corvette for a #2 here would be fire.

 

[Vinnie2u]

I don't think Pickens agent is going to push Jerry too far. He played the trade me card with Micah and he got shipped out. Sure Micah got paid. But ask him if its worth it to be stuck in Green Bay.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I have never heard Pickens say he wants Lamb money. I think the media is making this into some kind of drama. I wish that Jerry would offer him 25 million and see if he takes it.

He said his value has gone up. Lamb's deal is old news....the cap went up and with it so do salaries. And Lamb said he doesn't care if Pickens gets more. It's all a game to them.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

The problem is, there is a finite amount of space for players. Yes, you can manipulate it 100 different ways....but there does come a time when you are up against it. The Eagles are up against it....they have very little room and very little ways to make more because of how they structured their deals. It worked for them for a while but at a certain point you do have to bite the bullet.

Dallas has the players in hand and cap space. Sure, it would be nice to have Pickens in the offense. But we have a huge hole in the defense....like we need 5-6 starters and some actual backups that can play a little.

If we don't pay Pickens and tag him, we are still getting value out of that asset. If we get a first rounder or at worst a high second rounder, we are potentially getting a player that will be a starter and possibly a high level starter for pennies on the dollar compared to Pickens. Sometimes you have to go that route.

 

[ConstantReboot]

He said his value has gone up. Lamb's deal is old news....the cap went up and with it so do salaries. And Lamb said he doesn't care if Pickens gets more. It's all a game to them.

That's what the media said. He did not mention anything about his value going up. Here is what Pickens said:

"Just the ultimate best deal when it helps everybody," he said. "If it's the best thing for both parties, then I'm willing to do anything. But like I said, I can't control it, so I just kind of chill."

 

[Sydla]

I don’t see why the Cowboys wouldn’t pay market value.

A players services are worth what the market bears.

If the Cowboys cant afford a player of his ability and performance, then they need to shop within their means and pursue free agents of lesser skill and price tag.

You don’t go to the Lamborghini dealership and ask them to sell it to you for a Corvette price.

Because there is no unlimited spending in the NFL. It's hard for teams to pour a ton of money into one position without having to skimp elsewhere. That doesn't mean the Cowboys shouldn't try to resign Pickens but there is an argument to be made that given this team's issues, with Lamb already one of the highest paid WRs, does it make sense to pay Pickens as well and likely have to bandaid the defense again?

For example Over the Cap has the Cowboys cap usage $331 million (Top 51). Approx 62% of that is designated to the offense BEFORE even adding in Pickens potential cap hit. Now there will be adjustments as both Dak and Lamb likely will be restructured. But if they sign Pickens, there still is going to be a large imbalance in spending towards the offense over the defense.

I see both sides. Personally, I want Pickens back but I understand the implications if he is brought back.

 

[KingCorcoran]

I have never heard Pickens say he wants Lamb money. I think the media is making this into some kind of drama. I wish that Jerry would offer him 25 million and see if he takes it.

Franchise tag deadline is 26 days away. I’m going to guess the cowboys have been informed what George Pickens is seeking. If the answer is no, he’ll be tagged. Then it’s a matter of how contentious it will be.

I suspect he’ll be playing for the Cowboys on the franchise tag this coming season.

 

[jblaze2004]

Good article.
Of these 5 options non-exclusive tag makes most sense.
Make the 28M tag then allow him to shop himself to highest bidder. You either match or get TWO R1 picks.

Dallas has a heck of an asset whether as a player or as trade value.

This is what I would do even if its a 1st and a 3rd. I could see a wr needy team like the Bills who could really use his services.

 

[conner01]

Good article.
Of these 5 options non-exclusive tag makes most sense.
Make the 28M tag then allow him to shop himself to highest bidder. You either match or get TWO R1 picks.

Dallas has a heck of an asset whether as a player or as trade value.

That’s what I expect. His is gonna be a complicated deal and getting it done in 5 weeks isn’t likely to me. It gives you best options

 

[conner01]

This is what I would do even if it’s a 1st and a 3rd. I could see a wr needy team like the Bills who could really use his services.

You get two firsts if you don’t match. I don’t see many wanting to give 2 first and paying him a huge deal. That gives you leverage. If someone does, take the picks and run. But it sets the market so you have the option of matching

 

[32BellyOption]

You are right and I’m wrong

Same agency, not same agent.

 

[HungryLion]

I would use non exclusive. Be willing to hear trade offers.

I am fine with them either signing him long term or trading him for picks.

The one thing they absolutely cannot do, is let him walk in free agency. That would be beyond idiotic.

 

[Wangchung83]

Because there is no unlimited spending in the NFL. It's hard for teams to pour a ton of money into one position without having to skimp elsewhere. That doesn't mean the Cowboys shouldn't try to resign Pickens but there is an argument to be made that given this team's issues, with Lamb already one of the highest paid WRs, does it make sense to pay Pickens as well and likely have to bandaid the defense again?

For example Over the Cap has the Cowboys cap usage $331 million (Top 51). Approx 62% of that is designated to the offense BEFORE even adding in Pickens potential cap hit. Now there will be adjustments as both Dak and Lamb likely will be restructured. But if they sign Pickens, there still is going to be a large imbalance in spending towards the offense over the defense.

I see both sides. Personally, I want Pickens back but I understand the implications if he is brought back.

Don't bring logic into this, this group doesn't care about 30 years of nothing and 20 years of unbalanced offense vs defense spending. We haven't been close to balanced and obviously people still want to overspend on Pickens. That allows for comments like defense sucks, etc.

 

[SymphonySteve]

I don’t see why the Cowboys wouldn’t pay market value.

A players services are worth what the market bears.

If the Cowboys cant afford a player of his ability and performance, then they need to shop within their means and pursue free agents of lesser skill and price tag.

You don’t go to the Lamborghini dealership and ask them to sell it to you for a Corvette price.

More like a Corvair. It's like buying a WR who is 'unsafe at any speed' (caution: obscure reference alert).

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I love how people say, "Just pay him 32 million and be done with it." How do you know his agent doesn't want 37 or 38 or 40 million? Do you just hand him a blank check?

 

[DarkVader33]

I thought Pickens agent was Micah's agent? David Mulughetta??

Yep he is and that is an issue.