105.3 the fan: Do teams really want Pickens?

[jaythecowboy]

I think teams want him just not with both the salary he wants and the draft picks the Cowboys would want in return, at least not right now.

Being this close to the draft the the smart strategy for even any teams interested would be to wait until after the draft.

That way they can see what they have after the draft and if they have more pressing areas or if they still need help at receiver.

If so, they would then end up trading draft pick(s) in the 2027 draft where if they traded with the Cowboys now the Cowboys would almost surely require at least one high 2026 pick in the deal.

I think right now it's a holding pattern for both sides and other teams.

If it doesn't get done by draft night the Cowboys would likely rather have Pickens for the season (unless they draft receiver early).

 

[DuncanIso]

Did you listen to it? I heard it on the radio and Broaddus claims that his friends from other teams have told him that nobody wants to invest anywhere near $40 million in Pickens. They don't see him up their with JSN and they don't trust him.

Yup. He goes off meds.

Remember the Detroit game? Everyone saw it.

 

[gtb1943]

Yup. He goes off meds.

Remember the Detroit game? Everyone saw it.

Everyone saw something different; you saw what you wanted to see
That is why this year is so important for Pickens; he has to keep up the production and show he can be counted on
if he does that, despite what EXPERTS like you think, he will get a fat contract

 

[LouBrown]

I disagree.

If you plan to have a replacement in place within the next two years, it’s a better alternative than paying $75 million a year for two receivers.

I mean you can disagree but numbers are numbers. Franchise tag is the highest possible cap hit and then you lose him for nothing.

 

[Mobinvans]

All u know is Dallas is horrible at these situations…I hope they DONT have a plan

 

[Coogiguy03]

I think teams, the Cowboys included, are still very cautious with Pickens because they should be.

He is a talented guy but can't overcome poor QB play or a down offense and when faced with one he lashes out... which is why he's in Dallas to begin with.

Heck, even here, getting fed the ball regularly, he had to be benched to start the Raiders game, caused a few dumb penalties, and had one of the worst drops I've seen against the Bears that ultimately cost us the game.

I get it. He's good but could be a Brandon Aiyuk situation real quick!

Let's not forget the lions game

 

[Havic]

If a team calls it will be after the draft

 

[Stash]

Unlike the Dallas Cowboys the other 31 teams can understand a talented, young wide receiver not feeling good about being forced to accept playing on the franchise tag. No team will hold his behavior against him. Only a trash organization like the Cowboys can’t appreciate the difference between a player that’s a hostage and one that’s a volunteer.

Okay.

At a certain point Pickens will be thrilled to play for any other team at lower compensation if need be just to get away from Dallas. Hope he signs the tag 24 hours before game 1, shows up for the first game, dons his uniform, and lies down on a training table during the opening kickoff holding a copy of “Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life”. Hilarious.

Good for you.

 

[Stash]

I mean you can disagree but numbers are numbers.

Yeah. My numbers are 62 million over two years.

Franchise tag is the highest possible cap hit and then you lose him for nothing.

Categorically false.

The cost of the tag is $28 million for 2026 and $34 million for 2027 and then $0 dollars when you move on.

 

[CATCH17]

Part of me thinks teams just don’t like doing deals that make the Cowboys look good.

Dallas getting a premium pick for Pickens after only giving up a 3rd would make the Cowboys look really smart.

The thing is. Pickens is worth it.

He’s better than Waddle & Miami got a haul.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Part of me thinks teams just don’t like doing deals that make the Cowboys look good.

Dallas getting a premium pick for Pickens after only giving up a 3rd would make the Cowboys look really smart.

The thing is. Pickens is worth it.

He’s better than Waddle & Miami got a haul.

If Pickens was under the contract Waddle is teams would be aggressive trying to acquire him.

 

[Chuck 54]

I think teams want him just not with both the salary he wants and the draft picks the Cowboys would want in return, at least not right now.

Being this close to the draft the the smart strategy for even any teams interested would be to wait until after the draft.

That way they can see what they have after the draft and if they have more pressing areas or if they still need help at receiver.

If so, they would then end up trading draft pick(s) in the 2027 draft where if they traded with the Cowboys now the Cowboys would almost surely require at least one high 2026 pick in the deal.

I think right now it's a holding pattern for both sides and other teams.

No way Dallas would trade Pickens this offseason with draft picks coming next offseason. That would be crazy. You could just say goodbye to another wasted season and spend next offseason trying to replace him.

 

[DarkVader33]

Beautiful......its always comedy gold watching Jerry bidding against himself.

The Art of the Squeal.

I can hear the banjo playing now.

 

[DarkVader33]

"You got a pretty mouth, boy". IYKYK

Mary, I’m flabbergasted. Never thought you’d post something like this.

 

[conner01]

Wanting him and trading multiple picks plus a big contract is different. If he was a FA there would be lots of teams want him.

 

[DarkVader33]

I mean you can disagree but numbers are numbers. Franchise tag is the highest possible cap hit and then you lose him for nothing.

It may hurt us a bit while he’s playing for the tag but it does free up cap space later since we won’t be pushing signing bonuses down the road to lower his cap now.

 

[LouBrown]

Yeah. My numbers are 62 million over two years.


Categorically false.

The cost of the tag is $28 million for 2026 and $34 million for 2027 and then $0 dollars when you move on.

Your cap number is $62 million over two years.

Yea but you move on and then lose the player for nothing while absorbing excess cap hit for two years. It's a dumb strategy

 

[LouBrown]

It may hurt us a bit while he’s playing for the tag but it does free up cap space later since we won’t be pushing signing bonuses down the road to lower his cap now.

Nonsense. This is nonsense.

Because then you are just paying his replacement and it's the same difference

 

[Kingofholland]

I don't see him holding out this year, at least not out of games.

He may posture some by holding out of OTAs and part of training camp, but he's going to make a lot more money this year than he did last season and it's guaranteed once he signs the franchise tag contract.

The best move for him is to play this year on the franchise tag (assuming no contract or trade happens), repeat last year's performance and reliability with no issues and then leverage that to an even better contract in 2027 with the Cowboys or another team.

While I think he will play this year without a hold-out, I would be shocked if he didn't hold out in 2027 if the Cowboys franchise tag him again.

I don't see him missing game time either, I just hope he holdouts instead of holdins at camp. That was just awkward last year with Micah.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

While I think he will play this year without a hold-out, I would be shocked if he didn't hold out in 2027 if the Cowboys franchise tag him again.

This ....100%
This is pretty consistent with most players tagged for a 2nd time. Generally speaking, they don't seem to have issues with the initial tag, but the 2nd is a different ball game, especially if they play at a similar/better level.