105.3 the fan: Do teams really want Pickens?

[DarkVader33]

What doesn’t make sense is the way Pickens gets singled out.

People are so sure he’s a one‑year wonder or a “team wrecker,” but no one ever clearly explains how his attitude actually ruined the Cowboys. Yes, he had maturity issues in Pittsburgh, and that’s fair to bring up, but it doesn’t erase the fact that he’s been highly productive and has already shown he can play at an elite level.

At the same time, no one wants to talk about the contracts that have actually hurt the Cowboys. Bad deals with homegrown players have done far more damage to this roster than any potential Pickens contract ever could. Martin, Osa, Zeke, Bland, Ferguson, Diggs — those contracts are real, they’re on the books, and they’ve had consequences. Yet the media barely touches them.

Instead, the focus is always on why the Cowboys shouldn’t sign Pickens. I don’t listen to Cowboys media for this reason — it’s a lot of homer talk and recycled “all‑in” narratives that never hold the front office accountable.

If the Cowboys sign Pickens and it doesn’t work out, then so be it. At least then there’s a legitimate argument about taking a risk in free agency. But right now, they’ve already signed more disastrous contracts with their own players, and no one wants to bring that up. Singling out Pickens while ignoring those failures just doesn’t make logical sense.

Really? It’s the main thing this forum does is complain incessantly about every failure this franchise makes. I don’t think it would exist without it.

 

[Relayer]

What about tagging him for this year at $28 million and next year at $34 million?

Both are far less than the going rates.

Thats preferable to paying him $40 million - ever.

If you aren't trying to work the cap to make your team better that's fine.

 

[Relayer]

Here’s a question to ponder:

To what team is George Pickens more valuable than Dallas?

Any contender. But if Forced to name one I'd say the Bills.

 

[Relayer]

After the draft I'm confident Pickens becomes an out only if the season falls apart near the deadline, which realistically would not be that hard especially with a few key injuries.

Until we are mathematically eliminated Jerry believes we can win the SB, bless his heart.

 

[Relayer]

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.

What are the odds it turns out differently with him?

 

[Relayer]

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.

You could probably get him with about $60M guaranteed. Then it's the same dif but with cap flexibility. At least you could likely have before JSN signed.

 

[kramskoi]

Don't see how. They're not that far under the cap and still need to pay draft picks.

I'm looking more at the macro. For 2026 they are pretty close to being tapped out. If you exclude Ferguson and Bland, I think there is only the Quinnen Williams restructure available for additional cap space (12 - 15 million maybe). Doing deals with Pickens and Aubrey can get you 10 - 15 million more but that's probably it.

So I agree that they are getting to the end of it. I'm saying that since 2021 they haven't always done all that they could do.

 

[LouBrown]

Why are you ignoring the future cap savings by not pushing money forward? Let’s say we tag him and he plays this year and next. Then we draft a receiver high next year. In 2028 we won’t be paying a high salary for a second receiver if he pans out. And you may get a 3rd round comp pick fire Pickens. Do you see any negatives in this scenario? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s the best option, but not a bad one either, not the huge mistake you’re making it out to be.

Because they do not matter

 

[ConstantReboot]

Any contender. But if Forced to name one I'd say the Bills.

Denver, Patriots, Chicago, Eagles, San Francisco, Minnesota, Giants, Washington just to name a few.

 

[charron]

Not this year but next year yes. I don’t think any of us think we’re going to do anything significant this year anyways.

You never know. If the offense can still score close to 30/game and the defense is average they could make the playoffs. That's about all the excitement this team will have for a while.

 

[charron]

You extend him two months ago and then have way more money for the FA period

For what? Like I just said they have enough to pay whomever now and they don't want to. Paying pickens 28 doesn't stop them from signing someone. They don't want to sign anyone else. They almost traded for Crosby, they tried signing Hendrickson at 28 a year. It's fallacy to worry about pickens cap hit this year or next, it's a non issue.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Aint nobody releasing a guy you tagged. Like I said, what world are you in?

This is true. So they wait to see what George will do.

 

[kskboys]

What doesn’t make sense is the way Pickens gets singled out.

People are so sure he’s a one‑year wonder or a “team wrecker,” but no one ever clearly explains how his attitude actually ruined the Cowboys. Yes, he had maturity issues in Pittsburgh, and that’s fair to bring up, but it doesn’t erase the fact that he’s been highly productive and has already shown he can play at an elite level.

At the same time, no one wants to talk about the contracts that have actually hurt the Cowboys. Bad deals with homegrown players have done far more damage to this roster than any potential Pickens contract ever could. Martin, Osa, Zeke, Bland, Ferguson, Diggs — those contracts are real, they’re on the books, and they’ve had consequences. Yet the media barely touches them.

Instead, the focus is always on why the Cowboys shouldn’t sign Pickens. I don’t listen to Cowboys media for this reason — it’s a lot of homer talk and recycled “all‑in” narratives that never hold the front office accountable.

If the Cowboys sign Pickens and it doesn’t work out, then so be it. At least then there’s a legitimate argument about taking a risk in free agency. But right now, they’ve already signed more disastrous contracts with their own players, and no one wants to bring that up. Singling out Pickens while ignoring those failures just doesn’t make logical sense.

Sorry, dude, but you're way off base w/ me. I talk about those contracts all the time.

I think we should give Pickens a 5-6 year contract. We have around a 2 year window to do something right now. Sign Pickens and push most of it into year 4 and 5. We'll be done by that time anyway.

I also don't listen to the media.

 

[Bobhaze]

The only GM in this league dumb enough to give up two first round picks for a WR is named Jerry Jones.

And even he has learned that’s pretty stupid.

No team will be paying two #1 picks for GP.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Any contender. But if Forced to name one I'd say the Bills.

Bills just traded for CJ Moore. Why do they now need him more than Dallas does when Buffalo was a 12 win team without Moore or Pickens

 

[DarkVader33]

Bills just traded for CJ Moore. Why do they now need him more than Dallas does when Buffalo was a 12 win team without Moore or Pickens

Because they want to win the Super Bowl.

 

[Coogiguy03]

The only GM in this league dumb enough to give up two first round picks for a WR is named Jerry Jones.

And even he has learned that’s pretty stupid.

No team will be paying two #1 picks for GP.

 

[DuncanIso]

The only GM in this league dumb enough to give up two first round picks for a WR is named Jerry Jones.

And even he has learned that’s pretty stupid.

No team will be paying two #1 picks for GP.

Yup.

I think we are stuck with him.

No team wanted him last season, when he was cheap.

And the Detroit game was terrible for him.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Yea that’s the point I was making. Until Pickens and another team get something figured out the Cowboys can’t do anything but people are acting like it’s the Cowboys’ fault a deal hasn’t happened yet.

Well, it's not like Jerry and his boy have a history of proactive trading during the offseason. But I think this was done bc the Cowboys don't think Pickens market value aligns with the contract he wants. I guess we will see.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Because they want to win the Super Bowl.

More than Dallas?