Our recent WR2's before Pickens

[Coogiguy03]

Meanwhile keeping real players stuck behind those they dream about.

lol yes

 

[kramskoi]

Depends. Do you consider Devonta Smith and AJ Brown highly paid? If so? They won just a year ago.

57 mil/yr between the two of them. They one of the most expensive offenses in the league...if not THE most expensive. They spend half as much on defense.

 

[kramskoi]

Just curious.... is there a recent Super Bowl team that had 2 WRs they paid top dollar for?

Bengals 2021...though they didn't win
Eagles 2024...57 mil/yr between Smith and Brown

Cowboy fans really should be aware of this inconvenient truth. And they don't really use those two guys the way the expenditure might demand you should.

 

[kramskoi]

Make it happen. Eagles do. I’m just not buying the pie crap. All of those guys can walk for all I care. Pickens is priority. If you need to let all those guys walk to get defense then do it.

The Cowboys can reportedly free up over 100 million with restructures and releases. It's not the crisis many think it is. Not even close. Concentrate on the next two years and settle up in 2028...when Prescott will either be extended again or cut.

 

[Cmac]

Noah Brown, Brandon Cooks, and Jalen Tolbert, how did these options work out for us?? With all the Pickens talk so far, having a great #2 WR is a special thing. Do we want to go back to options as these, or an option like Pickens, I think we all know the answer, but is it best for this team??? Please give your thoughts

My thoughts?.........keep Pickens. Tolbert, all but disappeared this year........time to move on. Noah was here too long, and Cooks' size is a problem. Flournoy is possibly emerging, but too early to commit to him. Keep Pickens.

 

[Coogiguy03]

My thoughts?.........keep Pickens. Tolbert, all but disappeared this year........time to move on. Noah was here too long, and Cooks' size is a problem. Flournoy is possibly emerging, but too early to commit to him. Keep Pickens.

yes I've seen us commit to players too early and it was the wrong thing to do, he's a good #3 option that play well at times last season, we still need another WR one that can come in and make some plays especially if one of the big 2 are hurt

 

[Chasing6]

Replace them. Most of them are back ups anyway.

None of the ones I listed was a back up.

 

[Cmac]

yes I've seen us commit to players too early and it was the wrong thing to do, he's a good #3 option that play well at times last season, we still need another WR one that can come in and make some plays especially if one of the big 2 are hurt

Agree.....Flournoy is up.....and possibly a later round pick at WR for depth (Bye Tolbert & Mingo). As for Turpin.....I think they should only use him in the slot (similary to a Cole Beasley), as a chain mover.......reduce the gimmick runs.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Agree.....Flournoy is up.....and possibly a later round pick at WR for depth (Bye Tolbert & Mingo). As for Turpin.....I think they should only use him in the slot (similary to a Cole Beasley), as a chain mover.......reduce the gimmick runs.

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[big dog cowboy]

What team has had 2 $30M WR's and won a SB?

Not a point.

There are only 8 WR's in the entire league making that money. No 2 are on the same team.

 

[Chasing6]

Not a point.

There are only 8 WR's in the entire league making that money. No 2 are on the same team.

That is exactly the point.

 

[blueblood70]

Not a point.

There are only 8 WR's in the entire league making that money. No 2 are on the same team.

Isn’t that the point? Even for the few teams with a duo like this—both paid in the top 10–12 range and on the same roster, like Higgins/Chase, Waddle/Hill, or Brown/Smith—it’s rare and doesn’t necessarily lead to a Super Bowl. In fact, results are mixed, and often it’s the opposite. You don’t really need two receivers at that high 1A/1B level with massive contracts. The rarity of it shows it’s not a proven blueprint. The Cowboys would be paying even more—already close to $39 million for CeeDee Lamb, though restructures make it appear like $34 million—and then at least $30 million for George, possibly $32–34 million or more. That raises the question of whether the team can afford that while still building the rest of the roster, especially the defense. That’s why a trade should at least be considered; getting a first-round pick and freeing up $34 million would allow more flexibility to add talent, including another wide receiver, without being locked into this expensive category.

 

[blueblood70]

Not a point.

There are only 8 WR's in the entire league making that money. No 2 are on the same team.

Yeah the irony here is if TET would have been available last year when we picked, we wouldn't even have George Pickens on the team...

we'd have a very good, very young receiver on a rookie deal, that would complement Lamb just fine ,and that would be something we'd have to look for this year should we trade George Pickens, and get a first round pick for him, it gives us 3- 1st round picks and maneuver all over the draft; in a draft where we don't have a 2nd and 3rd round pick and we could use the money elsewhere..

Im not On the side that we have to get rid of George,

but it should be considered if he wants more than 30 and he's pushing for really big money really big guarantees, you must at least consider it ,

he is not a must have it's not an emergency it's already been proven, we're discussing it, there aren't many teams doing it that have two highly paid topflight wrs on the same team.

 

[Verdict]

I've said it all along. What's the plan if Pickens leaves and Lamb or Flournoy gets hurt?

The Cowboys won't draft a WR high enough to fill Pickens shoes.

Respectfully, I think that’s the wrong way to look at this situation. Let’s look at this situation, bigger picture. If we pay Pickens enough money to extend him, it’s going to be north of $35m per year. Thats half a billion in contracts in a Qb and two WR.

That absolutely wrecks the salary cap and all but ensures we will not fix this defense. We were lucky to win as many games as we did last year WITH Pickens.

If you move on from Pickens you will probably see a dropoff from Pickens. That’s almost a certainty. However, I think Flournoy is a better receiver than Tolbert, Gallup, Cooks, et al. He’s not Pickens at this point in his career, but he could very easily be the next Pickens at some point, without that cap charge or the headache.

I would extend Flournoy an a team friendly deal now. It would cost pennies on the dollar to what Pickens would receive.

Use at least PART of the Pickens savings to add ONE legitimate free agent on defense. I don’t care where that is. Just get us one legit player at any level on defense.

We can add receivers to the team that will not be Pickens level. But you have a $60m per year QB who in theory should be able to elevate this team. He’s already got the tight end. He’s got most of the OL. Dak should be able to get it done on offense without Pickens.

I would not be against taking the best OT in this draft class if we get washed out on defense. I would also not be afraid to trade back from #12 if we get washed out on defense.

The second tier of this defensive class looks pretty strong from about 20-45ish. We can get a similar player at 35 and 20 from this group defensively.

For some reason I think if we get washed out on the true blue chip talent in the top 12 on defense you might see a DE picked out of Mesidore, Faulk or Thomas or Thienamen/Allen from #15-30ish.

 

[Verdict]

Yeah the irony here is if TET would have been available last year when we picked, we wouldn't even have George Pickens on the team...

we'd have a very good, very young receiver on a rookie deal, that would complement Lamb just fine ,and that would be something we'd have to look for this year should we trade George Pickens, and get a first round pick for him, it gives us 3- 1st round picks and maneuver all over the draft; in a draft where we don't have a 2nd and 3rd round pick and we could use the money elsewhere..

Im not On the side that we have to get rid of George,

but it should be considered if he wants more than 30 and he's pushing for really big money really big guarantees, you must at least consider it ,

he is not a must have it's not an emergency it's already been proven, we're discussing it, there aren't many teams doing it that have two highly paid topflight wrs on the same team.

I think it’s folly to believe Pickens will settle for $30m per. That’s probably not in his wheelhouse. I will be surprised if Jerry gets Persins extended for anything less than $35m per and that number could be as high at $37M.

$30M is wishful thinking unless the league views Perkins as a LEGIT cancer and there is no market for him.

 

[ConstantReboot]

The Cowboys didn't make the playoffs with Pickens and he was not making much at all. With all the holes in this team now they will have to pay Pickens 30 million and how do you think that will help the roster building?
A good GM should be able to find a solid WR2 and not have to pay two WR's over 30 million a year plus a QB at 60 million.

Well, Pickens wasn’t the problem; the defense was. I don’t know why you keep saying we have to fix the defense by getting rid of Pickens. It’s not a reasonable argument, especially when Pickens is the reason we won about four to five more games than we should have.

 

[big dog cowboy]

That absolutely wrecks the salary cap

And paying a QB that can't win in January and making him the highest paid player in the history doesn't?

 

[Chuck 54]

Pickens is vital to the Cowboys offense for 2 reasons.

1. While Flournoy has impressed, we do not have 2-3 #2 quality WRs, so having 2 #1’s makes up for that lack of depth.
2. We do not have an elite TE who threatens the seam consistently. Ferguson is okay, but he’s not a stud. If you have Lamb and Bowers, Kelsey, LaPorta, etc, then you are okay without Pickens.

Bottom line, Ferguson and Flournoy can eat with Lamb and Pickens, but Lamb, Flournoy, and Ferguson do not threaten defenses. The only way I let Pickens leave is if I have a stud, big play TE or multiple weapons at #2 wr. We don’t have either, so roll with two #1’s.

 

[TwentyOne]

Noah Brown, Brandon Cooks, and Jalen Tolbert, how did these options work out for us?? With all the Pickens talk so far, having a great #2 WR is a special thing. Do we want to go back to options as these, or an option like Pickens, I think we all know the answer, but is it best for this team??? Please give your thoughts

We have an elite QB who will be even more elite next year.

Elite QBs are able to move the ball against great defenses even with medicore talent around them. Thats why they are labled "elite".

Short: Best for the team is to get a good QB. Everything else is just gossip.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

None of the ones I listed was a back up.

I’m trying to win and losing the Brock Hoffman of the world doesn’t scare me.