Stephen: Nobody has called interested in trading for Pickens

Another thing we have to remember is, teams are understandably just as wary as the Cowboys are before investing big money, draft capital, or both on Pickens.

His huge season in 2025 was an outlier compared to his first three years in the NFL. Of course, it was also the only season he had stability at quarterback. But maybe the Cowboys are wise to let Pickens play on the tag in 2026 before deciding to invest long term.

And if Stephen is telling the truth about no trade calls, perhaps the rest of the league feels the same way. Let's make sure the real George Pickens is the 2025 version, not the 2022, 2023, and 2024 versions. And not just statistically, but as a teammate and locker room presence.
 
CT Dal Fan said:
And if Stephen is telling the truth about no trade calls, perhaps the rest of the league feels the same way.
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That absolutely could be true. But it could also be true that some teams have talked to his agent and the asking price as of today is too high. If that were the case, there’s really no need to reach out to the Cowboys.

I would be shocked if some teams haven’t talked to his agent.
 
CT Dal Fan said:
Another thing we have to remember is, teams are understandably just as wary as the Cowboys are before investing big money, draft capital, or both on Pickens.

His huge season in 2025 was an outlier compared to his first three years in the NFL. Of course, it was also the only season he had stability at quarterback. But maybe the Cowboys are wise to let Pickens play on the tag in 2026 before deciding to invest long term.

And if Stephen is telling the truth about no trade calls, perhaps the rest of the league feels the same way. Let's make sure the real George Pickens is the 2025 version, not the 2022, 2023, and 2024 versions. And not just statistically, but as a teammate and locker room presence.
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He, and his agent, are not going to allow Jerry Jones to treat him as anything less than a premier NFL receiver. The Dallas Cowboys are the kind of franchise that has to prove themselves to premier players. Not the other way around.

Like it or not, George Pickens is a better wide receiver in the contemporary NFL than Jerry Jones is a General Manager in the contemporary NFL. Mulugheta has likely explained to his client the Cowboys may not be where you want to sign regardless of the money offered.
 
KingCorcoran said:
He, and his agent, are not going to allow Jerry Jones to treat him as anything less than a premier NFL receiver. The Dallas Cowboys are the kind of franchise that has to prove themselves to premier players. Not the other way around.

Like it or not, George Pickens is a better wide receiver in the contemporary NFL than Jerry Jones is a General Manager in the contemporary NFL. Mulugheta has likely explained to his client the Cowboys may not be where you want to sign regardless of the money offered.
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You make excellent points, but Pickens clearly loves being a Cowboy, he is in a place where he feels wanted and appreciated, and his rapport with Dak and CeeDee is undeniable.

Pickens will make a lot of money no matter where he goes. But a part of me thinks he will lean towards taking the Cowboys' offer- whatever and whenever that is- instead of risking putting himself into another Pittsburgh situation all over again.
 
CT Dal Fan said:
His huge season in 2025 was an outlier compared to his first three years in the NFL. Of course, it was also the only season he had stability at quarterback. But maybe the Cowboys are wise to let Pickens play on the tag in 2026 before deciding to invest long term.
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Maybe some teams think this way, but I wouldn't say that.

The difference is that he had a QB and a modern offense.
 
LouBrown said:
We have a pretty good idea what they are thinking because a) he isn't under contract b) he hasn't been traded and c) Dallas just said nobody has called lol.

We aren't talking about during or after the draft, we are talking about right now.
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The fact is the draft is right around the corner. I would assume that any team interested in him isn’t going to offer anything until the draft or right after depending on how the draft goes. However, we’ll know better if nothing happens during or shortly after.
 
Kwyn said:
You think Jerry and Stephen actually have solid, real world plans?

They always seem to be reacting and rarely have they shown they can stick to a plan for more time than it takes to reach the next crisis of their own creation
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They're "negotiating" just like they would on a natural gas lease. Silly to get worked up over it as this is typical for them.
 
KingCorcoran said:
At what point is the franchise tag counterproductive? Essentially the Cowboys have informed Pickens we’re not willing to sign you to an extension unless it’s in our best interest. Pickens is a hostage. His only choice now is when to show up. $27.298 million for a wide receiver who’ll be there when he’s there. Franchise tag him again and it’s well north of $30 million for the same scenario.

Recall Chris Jones? He was under contract and simply wanted more money. He stayed away, and was fined, and skipped the first game forfeiting a game check. Sat in the stands and watched the Chiefs lose to the Lions. He was signed soon after and was available for game 2. Pickens can’t even be fined. Will he sit in the stands and forfeit a game check to emphasize his displeasure with his situation?

I suggest a “volunteer” Pickens will perform better than a hostage Pickens. And the argument he’s only hurting himself is assuming none of the other 31 teams can’t appreciate why he’s not pleased. They can.
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he likely wants more $$ than CD.

which isnt going to happen.

only choice was tag him.

but he wont sign the tag, which means he can block a trade if he doesnt like a team.

no team is gonna want that 27M cap hit. how many teams actually have that much free cap at this time?

so the draft will likely come and go, then we roll into July.
 
FVSTONE said:
Why in the hell would Jones put out a statement like this one????? This is a huge slap in Picken's face, and he might not show up until the season starts, and even then, he may not be in the best of shape to have the same year he had last season. a pissed off Pickens could also turn out to be a cancer on the team.
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Why? Because they are butt hurt he has signed some low ball, "team friendly" deal yet and actually wants to maybe test his worth.
 
LouBrown said:
DUH. Not sure why everyone and their mother feels the need to say that.

That is exactly why there are no trade offers lol
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because you said he couldn't be traded without a contract and make it sound like there's absolutely no way to trade him and that it doesn't happen.
 
Teams are leery of one pump chumps like GP, who only ball out when it's contract time

There's a reason there was no interestast year ...except from us
 
amame25 said:
because you said he couldn't be traded without a contract and make it sound like there's absolutely no way to trade him and that it doesn't happen.
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It doesn't happen.

It's not that it's illegal
 
LouBrown said:
Nope. Teams can't trade for him because then he has all of the contract leverage and the price for an extension goes way up. Players do not get traded in this context, ever.

Contract control matters.
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The trade would be contingent on Pickens having agreed to a new contract with the team trading for him. They do not have to trade for the tag rights, and nobody ever would precisely because it would mean they have to further negotiate.

Historically, it has happened. It is rare because typically teams want to keep good players but just google it
  • Jadeveon Clowney (2019): Tagged by the Houston Texans and then traded to the Seattle Seahawks.
  • Yannick Ngakoue (2020): Tagged by the Jacksonville Jaguars, then traded to the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Frank Clark (2019): Tagged by the Seahawks, then traded to the Kansas City Chiefs.
 
DuncanIso said:
he likely wants more $$ than CD.

which isnt going to happen.

only choice was tag him.

but he wont sign the tag, which means he can block a trade if he doesnt like a team.

no team is gonna want that 27M cap hit. how many teams actually have that much free cap at this time?

so the draft will likely come and go, then we roll into July.
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These teams are all looking for a WR1 or WR2

Titans - $63m (no #1)
Commanders - $50m (no #1)
Jets - $40m (Wilson may be a #1)
Patriots - $35m (no #1)
Ravens - $30m (Zay may be a #1)
 
CowboysLakerBamaFan said:
Teams are leery of one pump chumps like GP, who only ball out when it's contract time

There's a reason there was no interestast year ...except from us
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Last year half the league wishes they had traded a third for Pickens. It’s one of the few times Jerry has actually beaten other GMs at anything.
 
Kwyn said:
Last year half the league wishes they had traded a third for Pickens. It’s one of the few times Jerry has actually beaten other GMs at anything.
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His cap hit was low.

But everyone was scared of him.

Pitt wanted him gone.

Off meds.

We gotta look at this in the Detroit game.
 
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