Stephen says Cowboys will finalize franchise tag for George Pickens

[Chasing6]

That 2023 stat is misleading. Dak looks better on paper, but the context matters. He had a top-five scoring defense creating turnovers, setting up short fields, and even scoring points. That kind of support keeps games closer and makes the offense look more efficient than it really was. He was certainly better in 2025 because of the passing attack with Pickens and Ceedee.

That is the point. Fix the Defense.

Many fans can claim this year was garbage time stats playing from behind.

 

[Chasing6]

They can create a lot of cap space, so that $28 million will not impact what they can do in FA.

They can, but they haven't.

 

[Chasing6]

If the Cowboys allow his agent to seek a potential trade partner and they agree on terms, but the Cowboys aren’t satisfied with what that team offers in trade. No deal. Pickens would be very disappointed.

That’s a potential scenario with a tagged player. Dallas won’t get max. value in trade under those circumstances. And there will be other good wide receivers available for substantially less in trade.

You mean like Micah being disappointed?

 

[KingCorcoran]

Well, I look at it this way, as much as I like George Pickens here, and maybe if he takes 30, I'm good with that, but not over 30,

But the whole concept of striking while the iron's hot, you know they say, that you should do it when your quarterbacks on a rookie deal, but you should do it when your team is young and you haven't paid out a bunch of big contracts,

I thought that was the concept in a capped league...

Once you get to where you're at with teams like Dallas, who are paying their quarterback, that much they're already paying a receiver that much, a linemen that much, a running back that much, those teams then have to build differently, and I don't understand the concept of now we need to pay the second receiver that much, because it seems to be normal, when really it's not.

Having a guy like Jefferson on one side and having a guy like Addison on a rookie deal, that's what you hope for, It might be tough to get that guy, but that is the reality, not all teams can afford two receivers that cost that much.

So yes, if it's reasonable, keep him, but if it becomes this money grab, then you have to move him.

I don't understand fans being scared to do with pretty much all teams do, you hope you finally find your elite wide receiver and you sign him, you have a great quarterback, however you rank him, it doesn't matter to me, we have a very good quarterback, We have a solid run game,

I don't see the need to have to put a second receiver on the team making that much money.

If I'm the GM, I'm running for that high first round draft pick for George Pickens, and turning it into multiple picks, getting a wide receiver in the draft, getting a better left tackle, and building the defense to be stronger, That's a good asset to have, why not consider using it.

His agent is able to ascertain how much he could get for Pickens if he was a free agent. If the Cowboys don’t want to meet that number then tag him and see what transpires.

 

[vlad]

how does it take a year to sign your kicker? that seems odd

 

[vlad]

He should talk less.

The “we think the world of him. We want him here, etc”. Dude loves to hear himself talk.

Say less to the media during negotiations.

"Obviously"

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Don't discount that a lot of the Cowboys late-signing problems could strongly involve the players agents just holding out until the last minute. Agents all know that this is, or has been, a very successful tactic against the Cowboys. It takes all 3 parties to agree. Once a negotiating precedent has been set, it's hard to break.

Oh no I totally agree. But the fact that it keeps happening to Dallas and doesn’t happen (or doesn’t happen as often to other teams) is because something Dallas is doing is inviting it. I have to believe based on the evidence of other teams that they know a way to stop it from happening but they choose not to

 

[ConstantReboot]

That is the point. Fix the Defense.

Many fans can claim this year was garbage time stats playing from behind.

Of course the defense is going to be addressed. There’s no world where the team just ignores it. We brought in a new DC for a reason, and the expectation is that he’s going to make real improvements on that side of the ball.

If you haven’t watched Christian Parker’s press conference, I’d recommend it. He flat‑out said it was a nightmare trying to gameplan against the Cowboys because of Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. That stood out to me.

That’s exactly why keeping Pickens makes sense. When your new defensive coordinator is telling you how hard a player is to deal with from an opponent’s perspective, that matters. He’s clearly advocating for keeping him, and I agree.

 

[AstroPilota]

Oh no I totally agree. But the fact that it keeps happening to Dallas and doesn’t happen (or doesn’t happen as often to other teams) is because something Dallas is doing is inviting it. I have to believe based on the evidence of other teams that they know a way to stop it from happening but they choose not to

No doubt it happens to a lot of teams, just the Cowboys are uber-high profile and it's in our face.

But yeah, I'm guessing we got more than our share. I think this got started with the Cowboys when Randy White decided to go on an "extended fishing trip", lol. This was before JJ bought the team, BTW. Then happened with Emmitt Smith, Zeke, ect. JJ has typically been overly loyal to his players and this is used as ammo against him. If he were not "so close" and more of a silent owner, it'd be easier to get deals done for sure.

 

[Chasing6]

Of course the defense is going to be addressed. There’s no world where the team just ignores it. We brought in a new DC for a reason, and the expectation is that he’s going to make real improvements on that side of the ball.

If you haven’t watched Christian Parker’s press conference, I’d recommend it. He flat‑out said it was a nightmare trying to gameplan against the Cowboys because of Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. That stood out to me.

That’s exactly why keeping Pickens makes sense. When your new defensive coordinator is telling you how hard a player is to deal with from an opponent’s perspective, that matters. He’s clearly advocating for keeping him, and I agree.

I think our DC was new last season as well.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

If the Cowboys allow his agent to seek a potential trade partner and they agree on terms, but the Cowboys aren’t satisfied with what that team offers in trade. No deal. Pickens would be very disappointed.

That’s a potential scenario with a tagged player. Dallas won’t get max. value in trade under those circumstances. And there will be other good wide receivers available for substantially less in trade.

A couple of issues here, K

*** How we know the trade offer isn't low-balled? I certainly would want them to take anything that is offered. No team will do that......
***Good WRs available for less? Are these "good" going to play at an elite/All-Pro level we KNOW were are getting from Pickens?

Just read a quote from Roseman about trading AJ Browm......in other words, if I'm losing my All-Pro WR, I wanna make darn sure there is a better replacement coming in.

 

[Chasing6]

A couple of issues here, K

*** How we know the trade offer isn't low-balled? I certainly would want them to take anything that is offered. No team will do that......
***Good WRs available for less? Are these "good" going to play at an elite/All-Pro level we KNOW were are getting from Pickens?

Just read a quote from Roseman about trading AJ Browm......in other words, if I'm losing my All-Pro WR, I wanna make darn sure there is a better replacement coming in.

No way to be darn sure. Stupid comment.

The goal is to make the overall Team better, it has nothing to do with replacing Pickens performance.

Again, we did not have Pickens in 2023 and Dak had a better year.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I think our DC was new last season as well.

He (Eberwuss) was awful. He refused to adjust the defense to fit the players he actually had. On top of that, his assistant coaches were bad. He basically copied and pasted his Chicago staff into Dallas with no real hiring process or thought behind it.

It was obvious how this was going to end. We already saw how poorly things went for him in Chicago, and nothing he did here suggested it would be any different.

 

[jazzcat22]

No way to be darn sure. Stupid comment.

The goal is to make the overall Team better, it has nothing to do with replacing Pickens performance.

Again, we did not have Pickens in 2023 and Dak had a better year.

And just how is it guaranteed the team will be better overall.
They know what they have in Pickens.

Most fans in love with Roseman and the Eagles on here say do what he does. now you disagree?

You do not sell a winning stock to take a chance on 4 unknown stocks.

 

[KingCorcoran]

A couple of issues here, K

*** How we know the trade offer isn't low-balled? I certainly would want them to take anything that is offered. No team will do that......
***Good WRs available for less? Are these "good" going to play at an elite/All-Pro level we KNOW were are getting from Pickens?

Just read a quote from Roseman about trading AJ Browm......in other words, if I'm losing my All-Pro WR, I wanna make darn sure there is a better replacement coming in.

Don’t you think that’s a GM indicating the price for his wide receiver will be high if you want him in trade? Saying otherwise wouldn’t be prudent.

AJ Brown will have to be traded after this year’s draft to avoid a substantial (over $45 million) 2026 cap hit. They’ll want to split it over two years. A 2027 draft pick isn’t as valuable as a 2026 pick in the same round. In addition, Pickens will want and deserve more than Brown is paid. If a team thinks they are a very good receiver away from playing in the Super Bowl, Brown may make sense. A team gets him now and pays later.

 

[Chasing6]

And just how is it guaranteed the team will be better overall.
They know what they have in Pickens.

Most fans in love with Roseman and the Eagles on here say do what he does. now you disagree?

You do not sell a winning stock to take a chance on 4 unknown stocks.

It is not difficult to see the road the Jones' are on. Prepare to be disappointed.

1. They have not even started negotiations.
2. They are not freeing up massive amounts of cap space.

Nothing has changed.

 

[jazzcat22]

It is not difficult to see the road the Jones' are on. Prepare to be disappointed.

1. They have not even started negotiations.
2. They are not freeing up massive amounts of cap space.

Nothing has changed.

Most likely it is all in the works. They can’t get everything done at once.

Fans are so impatient over this.

 

[Praxit]

..well, its done. Hopefully GP doesn't lose a step for 26'. (Mental tactics)

 

[Chasing6]

Most likely it is all in the works. They can’t get everything done at once.

Fans are so impatient over this.

Mahomes has been restructured.

Micah was a priority to the Jones last year.

Remember "Deadlines make deals"

The deal was, trade him to GB.

 

[Reid1boys]

We think the world of him, but in no rush to actually sign him.

that is such BS. EVERYTHING i simpacted by the cap, EVERYTHING. Hard to pay the most to the qb, top 3 to a wr, top 5 to another wr, most by far to a kicker and not get crushed by the cap/