Stephen: We will not have contract talks with Pickens

[75boyz]

The Cowboy history of drafting college injured players has me so tainted I just don't know how comfortable I would be with Tyson. For that reason I would prefer Tate as the WR choice.

BUT it's weird because I'm a CJ Allen fan at linebacker too and again, while his knee medicals still scare me, I still want him wearing the green dot honestly.
So I guess I'm pretty inconsistent there.

Then you add in McCoy's injury history along with the stuff about Downs as prospective secondary picks all while the front office is saying no to any injured/red shirt players. So I don't know what to think honestly.

 

[slick325]

Agreed. But I just dont see how this announcement in April benefits anyone involved.

Honestly, I don't get it either, JK19.

 

[Sydla]

LOL, these guys learn nothing.

And now all this talk of a WR at 12 makes sense. They have no desire for him to be here long term.

 

[fivetwos]

Why do you ask a question on line one and then answer it yourself on line two

Lol nice catch.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

You talking about the Jones boys. I bet David gave them the parameters of the contract and it was probably 40 million a season. The Joneses were hoping for 30 million. The Cowboys hopes were to tag Pickens twice and get 3 seasons at 60 million. Not gonna happen wth that agent.

I think the Rams have the best strategy. Just give the player what he wants. They trade for a guy like Jalen Ramsey, he gets a monster contract, then the whole locker room is happy and they play great. 2 years later they trade away Ramsey and accept the cap hit because it was worth it. They did the same thing to Todd Gurley and Marcus Peters and Brandin Cooks and Jared Goff and watch them do it to Trent McDuffie.

I don’t see how toying with players like this is good for the Dallas Cowboys. Do we want a disgruntled Pickens to demand a trade and then be forced to play on a lame duck deal while the trade demand is still pending? Do that benefit the 2026 Cowboys?

 

[Rayman70]

We visited with IU receiver Omar Cooper 3 times or more . Flew to IU as well. Where's there's smoke there's fire.

 

[Coogiguy03]

There is no viable reason to have him on our roster in '26 now, and I absolutely love the guy and can put up with the theatrics that come with him. Why would Baldy Jr bring this up 24 hours before the draft if for no other reason than to market the player? What he has done is this, but also makes the team vulnerable to being forced to unload him for the first/best offer

You made very good points on this, hours before the draft oh let me go steal headlines I had all the time in the world to say it I choose to do it now lol

 

[Chasing6]

Maybe we can get him to agree to a nice big trade

There has been no phone calls inquiring about Pickens. Which means no reason to trade him and no reason to pay him what his Agent wants.

It is in Pickens best interest to build off last seasons stats.

 

[Kwyn]

Then you've never done it well. You never commit to proven malcontents.

Pickens is good, but he's not that good, so you have to keep him in the interviewing process. Sign him long term with guaranteed money, and you get Trevon all over again.

Well, setting aside your insults, I’m actually of the opinion we should have already traded him.

I also thought we should have traded Micah much sooner.

Trade him or extend him but using the tag is the dumbest thing possible.

 

[Aven8]

Makes sense financially. If Pickens has another banner year you paid him what 30-31 million for a two year deal? Can’t beat that for top 5 production.

Having said that if they go WR at 12 this team isn’t serious about winning football games.

 

[Kwyn]

This just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Jerry has done some dumb stuff in the past, but why announce this so early in the offseason? Training camp is still 4 months away. Now Pickens has no incentive to sign it anytime before September, and has the option to wait until week 9 if he’s feeling petty, which he has the right to with a statement so belittling like this

Feign negotiations, say “whelp, too bad we couldn’t come to an agreement”, show him hospitality and let him down easy, then pull this stuff next offseason when you kick him to the curb. It almost seems intentionally insulting to proclaim this to the media today. I don’t remember a single time a team tagged a player and then turned around and said they refused to entertain a long term contract before negotiations even really got heavy. So Dallas tagged him because they don’t want him around after 2026 and just want to take the lump sum franchise tag cap hit right now? The window ends in December or they don’t like him as a fit anymore?

Typical Jerry. Incompetent *and* malicious. It’s the dumbest combo possible

 

[KingCorcoran]

It's only a drama filled preseason if Pickens brings the drama. It is 100% in his best interest to show up, give his best and be a positive influence in the locker room and on the practice field. Pouting and half arsing it only gets the football world shaking their collective heads and muttering "I guess all the talk about him was true".

Only downside for the Cowboys is the cap hit this year. I'd want to see him one more season before I committed long term. Bonus that he has a tiny bit of a reason to pout and show who he really is.

28 million bucks is a heck of a reason to get over yourself and get to work so you can positively market yourself into even more massive future earnings.

There are no victims here.

As long as there is a chance of securing a long term deal with a team he should not sign the tag. The moment he signs it he’s required to participate in organized mandatory team activities or be fined. In addition, participation could result in injury and that would hurt his value to another team. Once he’s past July 15 the only team that can offer him a deal is the Cowboys and then only for the 2026 season. So, until the start of the season he should continue to try to get a deal for more than $27.298 million for the 2026 season. If the Cowboys believe it’s important for Pickens to be in camp they’ll pay up.

They’re stuck paying him the $27.298 million at that point, anyway. What’s it worth over and above that amount to get him to training camp? They can get out from under the $27.298 million by rescinding the franchise tag. He would then immediately become a free agent, not subject to the franchise tag. Surely Jerry and son considered all the possible outcomes prior to applying the franchise tag on George Pickens.

 

[phildadon86]

I did expect a long term deal, but if it happens this year or next year makes no difference.

Its not happening.

This team traded a 3rd rounder to use him for a year, then not pay him market value. This is them getting back at his agent for Micah.

Dont think Jerry is that petty? I have a bridge to sell you. Pickens may sit out until week 9.

 

[StarLord]

draft 2 WRs with 12 and 20. All problems solved.

You sure you wouldn't rather have a Guard and a TE?

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Strange for them to come out and admit it this soon.

Either Pickens is asking for too much or they finally accepted it would be cheaper and smarter for them to pay him on franchise tag this year than sign him to a new contract.

Of course it is also possible Pickens' side decided they can make more money long term if they wait until 2027 for a new contract with the Cowboys or another team.

Bingo......

Keep in mind that 2027 is the first year out on Lamb's contract. So this time next year, they could be at a crossroads about who to keep: Lamb or Pickens.

Also this could also be saying what many have said all along ........we can't have TWO WRs with long-term $30M+ contracts.

Think fans are overreacting a bit .......Jerry clearly said he and Pickens' agent have had a very good convo. That tells me they are probably on the same page about what's best for BOTH sides.

 

[shabazz]

Makes sense financially. If Pickens has another banner year you paid him what 30-31 million for a two year deal? Can’t beat that for top 5 production.

Having said that if they go WR at 12 this team isn’t serious about winning football games.

Yes and Yes.

Use him for 2 seasons and discard him like smegma after that.

If they dont draft defense early and often, they deserve to be tarred and feathered.

 

[rambo2]

Oh stop it.

They have no idea what they are doing.

You literally said GP was EXCITED to play on the tag lol

Would you be excited for getting 27 million dollars? I would. That's a lot money for most people.

 

[Kwyn]

I'm perfectly fine with this, just trade him now and draft his replacement instead of having the soap opera all year.

I agree with the plan, but being perfectly fine with the front office’s compulsive, public, stupidity is not ok, imo

 

[Kwyn]

Makes sense financially. If Pickens has another banner year you paid him what 30-31 million for a two year deal? Can’t beat that for top 5 production.

Having said that if they go WR at 12 this team isn’t serious about winning football games.

Now that’s how a first class organization handles player relations,

I’m sure the 31 real GMs in the league are taking notes.

 

[Kwyn]

The other teams already distrust Pickens. If he causes a stir he hurts his own wallet when he leaves.

There’s absolutely no basis for that

It’s like saying other teams don’t want Puka or Brown.