Schefter: Cowboys will put franchise tag on Pickens

[Kevinicus]

Nice screenshot from a Madden game.....

Was it too difficult to find an actual game photo?

Looks like it's from his TD in the Bears game. Even the jumbotron in the background shows the Bears logo with a 14-6 score, which is what the score was when he made the TD.

 

[Redsfan_83]

He won't complain, he and Lamb already have plans in Brazio

 

[baltcowboy]

My goodness, dude.....classic case of overthinking here

Yeah it’s always good to give away mid round picks. You don’t need them.

 

[McKDaddy]

Why would he look in the mirror. Pickens did his job last season. 2nd team all pro. His agent is gonna take care of him like Parsons, Love, Watson, ect. David is number 1 agent in the NFL.

Because he was already eligible for an extension. Instead his behavior had him traded & playing on a prove it year.

 

[erod]

Why would he look in the mirror. Pickens did his job last season. 2nd team all pro. His agent is gonna take care of him like Parsons, Love, Watson, ect. David is number 1 agent in the NFL.

That was last season. Me did that in Pittsburgh, too, until he went full knucklehead.

Never commit long term to people like Pickens. Franchise tag.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Smith doesn’t make more than $30 million, and they had both WRs for two seasons prior to Barkley, who really put them over the top. You do need studs on defense. They fixed their secondary as well before the SB run.

During their SB run, the Eagles understood (Kellen Moore really) how important running the football was, even when paying your QB well over $30 million. The Cowboys will never adopt this philosophy with Prescott. Their philosophy is, “We’re paying Dak $60 million, so we need to be a passing team.” They don’t value RB or TE either.

What really put them over the top was defense.

The year before their Super Bowl run, they had the 30th‑ranked defense in the NFL. One year later, after hiring Vic Fangio, they jumped to #1 — a massive turnaround.

They invested heavily in that side of the ball, drafting Mitchell (1st round) and DeJean (2nd round), adding Zack Baun, and developing mid‑round picks like Josh Sweat and Milton Williams. Josh Sweat and Milton Williams weren’t stars early on — the coaching change is what unlocked them.

After they shut down the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, both Josh Sweat and Milton Williams left in free agency, and got paid big contracts elsewhere.

Bottom line: defense wins games — and championships.

 

[TheSport78]

What really put them over the top was defense.

The year before their Super Bowl run, they had the 30th‑ranked defense in the NFL. One year later, after hiring Vic Fangio, they jumped to #1 — a massive turnaround.

They invested heavily in that side of the ball, drafting Mitchell (1st round) and DeJean (2nd round), adding Zack Baun, and developing mid‑round picks like Josh Sweat and Milton Williams. Josh Sweat and Milton Williams weren’t stars early on — the coaching change is what unlocked them.

After they shut down the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, both Josh Sweat and Milton Williams left in free agency, and got paid big contracts elsewhere.

Bottom line: defense wins games — and championships.

I agree with this! I would argue that Barkley was the MAIN driver of what got them to the dance, but you're absolutely right.

 

[Proof]

I think the Jones Boys cost the cap $15 ish million by being stupid and not signing Pickens early in the season. It was so predictable.

he had zero incentive to sign during the season, and said so.

 

[charron]

I am not sure they can at this point. May need to wait until the league year starts.

That is understandable if that is the rule. But Jerry needs to stop being afraid of picking up a phone.

 

[Flamma]

If they tag him, they have until when to come up with a deal? Sometime in June or July? If he plays under the tag, then the Cowboys are not serious contenders.

 

[jazzcat22]

That was last season. Me did that in Pittsburgh, too, until he went full knucklehead.

Never commit long term to people like Pickens. Franchise tag.

So let's not base it on what he did here. Let's base it on what he supposed did all the time in Pittsburgh.

 

[jazzcat22]

If they tag him, they have until when to come up with a deal? Sometime in June or July? If he plays under the tag, then the Cowboys are not serious contenders.

Why is it always the Cowboys fault?
Maybe Pickens and his agent will be happy to play under the franchise tag, and let him have another prove it deal.

What if the franchise tag is $28 million. Jerry offers $30 million, but Pickens and his agent want $32 million, or feel they can get $38 million in 2027 as a FA if not tagged again.

 

[Acceptablename]

The Cowboys will be able to apply the franchise tag to Pickens anytime between Feb. 17 and March 3, but the tag undoubtedly is coming, if for no other reason than to serve as a placeholder for the start of negotiations designed to keep him in Dallas.

And then trade please

 

[Acceptablename]

Why is it always the Cowboys fault?
Maybe Pickens and his agent will be happy to play under the franchise tag, and let him have another prove it deal.

What if the franchise tag is $28 million. Jerry offers $30 million, but Pickens and his agent want $32 million, or feel they can get $38 million in 2027 as a FA if not tagged again.

Which they probably can

 

[KingCorcoran]

That is understandable if that is the rule. But Jerry needs to stop being afraid of picking up a phone.

Teams can sign their pending free agents now.

 

[KingCorcoran]

If they tag him, they have until when to come up with a deal? Sometime in June or July? If he plays under the tag, then the Cowboys are not serious contenders.

EOB July 15. 3:00 PM CST.

Cowboys are not serious contenders if they sign or tag him.

 

[charron]

Teams can sign their pending free agents now.

That's what I thought but I wasn't sure. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[erod]

So let's not base it on what he did here. Let's base it on what he supposed did all the time in Pittsburgh.

He's been a knucklehead since college and before.

Research.

 

[Risen Star]

The best thing for next year is to keep him one way or the other.

The best long term option is to tag and trade him. Especially considering how well we draft all of the time.

Such a needlessly tough position to be in. So talented but so stupid too. The odds of him responding well through the life of a long term contract are nearly zero. In times of adversity don't look to him to lead. He'll be part of the problem. I guarantee it.

 

[KingCorcoran]

The best thing for next year is to keep him one way or the other.

The best long term option is to tag and trade him. Especially considering how well we draft all of the time.

Such a needlessly tough position to be in. So talented but so stupid too. The odds of him responding well through the life of a long term contract are nearly zero. In times of adversity don't look to him to lead. He'll be part of the problem. I guarantee it.

I wonder how many of the other 31 teams think the same thing about Pickens as you do.