Pickens is a good player. I can't argue he is not. He helps the Cowboys by becoming a real threat in the passing game and taking heat off CeeDee. Pickens will see a lot of 1 on 1 coverage and he has a pretty sizeable catch radius for Dak. But this trade is not a question of the talent he brings to the field. Had they signed him as a free agent to a 4 year deal, I think we would all be happy.
However, Pickens is in the last year of his contract and I suspect will want more than $20 million next year to sign with anyone. That's just a guess of course, but It has to be in that ball park if not more. The better he plays the more it will cost to retain him. The worse he plays, the more affordable he becomes but then the question will be do we want him. If he wants $20 million or more I think it is safe to say Dallas will not re-sign him. Or is that what all that CAP space they have now is for?
So Dallas gave up a 3rd and 5th for a player who will probably, mostly likely, be in Dallas for 1 year. Why would a team that claims to build from the draft only, give away so much draft capital for a player who will be there for 1 year? That seems like a high price to pay for a 1 year player. The Cowboys are not 1 player away from contending so getting Pickens for 1 year is not building for the future.
Now I remember when the Cowboys traded Amari Cooper for a 5th - a 5th - and the excuse was his contract. Cooper was making about $20 million., mostly salary that could have been restructured to make CAP room if necessary. It just seems like when Dallas makes a trade, they get fleeced most of the time. I wouldn't say this deal is a fleecing exactly, but I do think they overpaid for a guy who Pittsburgh clearly did not want. And it brings back to the fore the horrible deal to trade Cooper for only a 5th after giving up a 1st to get him. And, let's not forget the 4th they gave up for Mingo who now, will not get the opportunity to be the #2 guy in Dallas. The Cowboys have now given up a 3rd, 4th and 5th to get Pickens and Mingo with a couple of day 3 picks.
These draft picks may not seem like much now, but come April 2026, I think we will be wishing we had that 3rd round pick back.