Jeremy Fowler notes on Pickens and Bass

[big dog cowboy]

The Cowboys are hoping to unlock more versatility in George Pickens, a traditional outside receiver who is entering a key career stretch while on the franchise tag. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer told me he plans to tweak the Dallas offense about 15% to 25% from last season to keep sophisticated defenses guessing. Part of that equation is moving Pickens around. "He can play multiple spots," Schottenheimer said. "I know in Pittsburgh he got frustrated a little bit because he was always in one spot. He was always the X. We move him around a bunch. But the sky is the limit for GP." Pickens has been seemingly unfazed by any frustrations associated with the franchise tag, which will pay him $27.3 million, well below market for a receiver of his caliber. He could be facing another tag (around $32.8 million) in 2027. For now, Pickens and the Cowboys are in a good place -- and Schottenheimer plans to maximize Pickens' enormous skill set.

Speaking of Dallas' offense, having guard T.J. Bass in the rotation is a timely benefit because of star Tyler Smith's move to injured reserve. The Cowboys received trade inquiries for Bass during the offseason and at roster cut-downs but told teams he was off limits. That decision paid off. Now, he steps into a starter's role for the short term.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49873881/week-1-buzz-fantasy-predictions-graziano-fowler-2026

 

[BobSacamano]

That nugget on Bass brings up an interesting discussion point.

It’s hindsight now maybe with Smith injured, but would people want that 2nd round draft selection if they moved Bass, or him staying around for this type of situation?

 

[ShiningStar]

That nugget on Bass brings up an interesting discussion point.

It’s hindsight now maybe with Smith injured, but would people want that 2nd round draft selection if they moved Bass, or him staying around for this type of situation?

we ll never know, there are so many factors, its hard to say with certianty. Some players respond to different coaches, locker rooms, schemes, so maybe another lower drafted guy could come here and become a star.

the draft is not a science no matter how hard they want us to believe it. Humans and the heart can not be measured.

 

[conner01]

That nugget on Bass brings up an interesting discussion point.

It’s hindsight now maybe with Smith injured, but would people want that 2nd round draft selection if they moved Bass, or him staying around for this type of situation?

I don’t think a 2nd was an option and that’s why the kept him

 

[Nova]

That nugget on Bass brings up an interesting discussion point.

It’s hindsight now maybe with Smith injured, but would people want that 2nd round draft selection if they moved Bass, or him staying around for this type of situation?

In a vacuum, 2nd Rounder > Bass all day every day, not really close.

But timing is a factor even before the Smith injury.

If you think the Cowboys can be a real threat in 2026, then the comparison really becomes 2nd Rounder < Crucial Depth.

If you think 2027 is the Cowboys real window, then no... you take the 2nd.

I lean more toward the latter.

 

[Creeper]

That nugget on Bass brings up an interesting discussion point.

It’s hindsight now maybe with Smith injured, but would people want that 2nd round draft selection if they moved Bass, or him staying around for this type of situation?

I think if they traded Bass they would have kept Trevor Keegan or Nate Thomas.

Inquiries were made for Bass but I don't believe anyone would have offered a 2nd round pick for him. If they did, I would have made that trade in a flash.

 

[BobSacamano]

I don’t think a 2nd was an option and that’s why the kept him

I’m just phrasing it as an, ‘If someone would offer a 2nd for Bass, would you do it?’ type of question.

Knowing what we know now.

Not necessarily that I believe anyone tried to offer a 2nd rounder for him.

I typically take with a grain of salt when a reporter is told by Dallas that a certain player who is not an all star, is that coveted around the league. Like how they try to justify certain draft choices on the basis that if they didn’t take them higher than expected, a really respected team was going to.

 

[BobSacamano]

I think if they traded Bass they would have kept Trevor Keegan or Nate Thomas.

Inquiries were made for Bass but I don't believe anyone would have offered a 2nd round pick for him. If they did, I would have made that trade in a flash.

I’m just saying. Would you trade away the next man up for a high draft selection?

It’s a nuanced question.

If next man up can fill the role of a starter to keep the team afloat this year. Would it outweigh the potential, future benefits of a premium draft pick? Or the opposite?

 

[Coogiguy03]

Imagine an NFL player Picken their own Bass!!!??? One hell of a fisher they are!!!!

 

[BobSacamano]

In a vacuum, 2nd Rounder > Bass all day every day, not really close.

But timing is a factor even before the Smith injury.

If you think the Cowboys can be a real threat in 2026, then the comparison really becomes 2nd Rounder < Crucial Depth.

If you think 2027 is the Cowboys real window, then no... you take the 2nd.

I lean more toward the latter.

That’s what I’m talking about and I agree with your reasoning.

 

[LouBrown]

I think if they traded Bass they would have kept Trevor Keegan or Nate Thomas.

Inquiries were made for Bass but I don't believe anyone would have offered a 2nd round pick for him. If they did, I would have made that trade in a flash.

Yea I doubt it. If someone was going to give a 2nd, they could have done that when he was tendered. A third I might have actually done, but I'm 50-50 on whether that would have even been offered.

If the trade is Bass for Keegan + Pick 85 I probably would.

 

[gimmesix]

That nugget on Bass brings up an interesting discussion point.

It’s hindsight now maybe with Smith injured, but would people want that 2nd round draft selection if they moved Bass, or him staying around for this type of situation?

I believe that you don't need to trade away your top depth. You could just end up with a Schoonmaker or Randy Gregory or ... Every position needs to have a player the coaches see as next man up because injuries happen.

 

[ShiningStar]

I believe that you don't need to trade away your top depth. You could just end up with a Schoonmaker or Randy Gregory or ... Every position needs to have a player the coaches see as next man up because injuries happen.

i agree to me in this era, depth is way more important.

 

[G2]

That nugget on Bass brings up an interesting discussion point.

It’s hindsight now maybe with Smith injured, but would people want that 2nd round draft selection if they moved Bass, or him staying around for this type of situation?

Great question.

 

[fivetwos]

First reaction was what I said yesterday….Smith is one of the e best players on the team, but not very high up the list on players we cannot afford to lose.

If we start cutting into guard depth from here, yeah we have problems.

 

[Kingofholland]

That nugget on Bass brings up an interesting discussion point.

It’s hindsight now maybe with Smith injured, but would people want that 2nd round draft selection if they moved Bass, or him staying around for this type of situation?

Interesting to think about for sure. I would be surprised if anyone offered a 2nd rounder for a backup linemen in their final year. I think most would take the 2nd rounder honestly, but more than likely it was a day 3 pick, which wouldn't be worth.

 

[McKDaddy]

I’m just saying. Would you trade away the next man up for a high draft selection?

It’s a nuanced question.

If next man up can fill the role of a starter to keep the team afloat this year. Would it outweigh the potential, future benefits of a premium draft pick? Or the opposite?

I think we have to consider that we keep drafting T's that aren't good enough. Some of those guys could probably slide inside & be quite good.

If you lean that way, then it would be easier to trade away a known commodity.

 

[StarW]

In a vacuum, 2nd Rounder > Bass all day every day, not really close.

But timing is a factor even before the Smith injury.

If you think the Cowboys can be a real threat in 2026, then the comparison really becomes 2nd Rounder < Crucial Depth.

If you think 2027 is the Cowboys real window, then no... you take the 2nd.

I lean more toward the latter.

If you look at all of his starts, the fact that he'sbacking up all three IOL positions, and his 2025 snap count, he's basically another starter. But he's also physically built like one, and more importantly, performed like one.

TJ Bass — 2025 Season Overview + RAS​

• Games Played: 16
• Games Started: 5 (three at right guard, two at left guard)
• Offensive Snaps: 352
• PFF Overall Grade: 67.6 — 30th of 81 qualified NFL guards
• PFF Pass-Block Grade: 62.9 — 36th of 81
• PFF Run-Block Grade: 65.8 — 34th of 81
• RAS: 8.21
• Pass-Blocking Efficiency: 99.0 — tied for 1st among NFL guards meeting snap requirements
• Sacks Allowed: 0
• Total Pressures Allowed: 4
• Penalties: 0

That 67.6 overall PFF grade ranked 30th among 81 qualified guards, putting him in roughly the top 37% of NFL guards.

He also delivered a 99.0 Pass-Blocking Efficiency rating, tied for 1st among qualifying NFL guards, while allowing zero sacks, four total pressures, and played the entire year without committing a single penalty.

He's a proven, highly athletic IOL who has demonstrated that he can step into the lineup and play at a legitimate NFL level.

As a proven player who actually plays quite a bit for us, he's objectively worth FAR more than an unproven 2nd-round pick. You're basically talking about trading that for a unproven potential Sam Williams, Kelvin Joseph, Schoonmacher?

Interior OL Games Missed Breakdown — 2025 Season​

• Tyler Smith (Guard/Tackle): Missed 1 game due to a knee injury.
• Tyler Booker (Guard): Missed 3 games due to a high-ankle sprain.
• Cooper Beebe (Center): Missed 6 games due to a right ankle/foot injury (sidelined from Weeks 3 through 8 before returning in Week 9).

That's 10 games missed by the projected starting interior OL. That's exactly why having a guy like Bass — someone who can play all three IOL spots and has already proven he can perform — has substantially more value than you're giving him credit for.

Personally, I put a little respect on his name seeing how he's earned it.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Inquiries were made for Bass but I don't believe anyone would have offered a 2nd round pick for him. If they did, I would have made that trade in a flash.

I suspect the Cowboys would have jumped all over that. Trading a backup for a 2nd? Yes!

 

[kumizi]

I’m so ready for Sunday.