Pickens appears to be a poor risk

[Reid1boys]

I’ll settle for a reasonably productive 2025, him being fine with the tag for 2026 (Parsons first year hit will be low), and the trade will likely be worth the cost.

The scenario of him netting a third in return goes away if he becomes a locker room problem again. He will get no big offers.

He wasnt a locker room problem with the steelers.

 

[Chasing6]

How do you figure?

Look at the draft trade value chart.

Do you think $100K is worth a $100K next year?

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

As we should I suppose. Guess I'm trying to remain faithful to my team. I have a belief...call it a hunch, that this team and staff will be different than what we think.

Both honorable and adorable at the same time!

 

[Ranching]

Comparing an organization and culture that has been to 3 SBs in the last 10 years and won 2, to an organization that hasnt even won back to back playoff games in almost 3 decades is a feat only you can accomplish

Nah, most fans here aren't jealous whiners.

 

[exciter]

You did not finish the math. You get back a comp pick in your equation which could be a 3rd or a 4th.

Well that’s assuming you don’t sign a bunch of outside spare parts like Payton Turner and Parris Campbell.
Or did you miss the discussion about the 5th we were inline to get for Lawrence going poofff and vanishing like a fart in the wind!

 

[Chasing6]

As we should I suppose. Guess I'm trying to remain faithful to my team. I have a belief...call it a hunch, that this team and staff will be different than what we think.

I think hopeful is the right word and we all have different beliefs. I am sure some homers, think we are going to the SB next year.

 

[rambo2]

Well that’s assuming you don’t sign a bunch of outside spare parts like Payton Turner and Parris Campbell.
Or did you miss the discussion about the 5th we were inline to get for Lawrence going poofff and vanishing like a fart in the wind!

And somehow they ended up with 9 picks after making 3 trades.

 

[ErikWilliamsHeadSlap]

The coaches didn't like him. His teamates did like him so he isn't a licker room problem. He is immature emotionally. Much like T.O. Dez. Lamb and other WRs. He is a perfect fit with Lamb. It was a good trade. And had it been SF, Eagles, Commanders or Rams we would all be saying its a good deal. But the bias around here to crap on anything the organization does, puts a different spin on it.

You want them to acquire talent? They did that.

Someone should be asking Tomlin why any WR with talent that comes through Pitt, ends up like this. What is going on up there?

 

[Pass2Run]

The coaches didn't like him. His teamates did like him so he isn't a licker room problem. He is immature emotionally. Much like T.O. Dez. Lamb and other WRs. He is a perfect fit with Lamb. It was a good trade. And had it been SF, Eagles, Commanders or Rams we would all be saying its a good deal. But the bias around here to crap on anything the organization does, puts a different spin on it.

You want them to acquire talent? They did that.

Someone should be asking Tomlin why any WR with talent that comes through Pitt, ends up like this. What is going on up there?

Hey HeadSlap, between you and I . . . it was a good trade.

 

[buybuydandavis]

And one year is worth a 3rd round pick?

I dunno.
But as I suggested, we should get a decent comp pick on the back end to offset the 3rd.

And keep in mind Tolbert. Picked in the 3rd.

4years of Tolbert or 1 year of Pickens?
Pickens is a difference maker.

 

[BoyzBlaster]

Matt Stafford was also a 100% known commodity. Jim Plunkett was as well..... until he wasnt. So was Doug Williams.... Mark Rypien wasnt exactly Jim Kelly.

Comparing Dak to Stafford is like comparing a donkey to Secretariat.. The fact that you have to go back 50 years for your other examples says a lot. But if you think the Cowboys are going to build a powerhouse team like the Skins I've got a bridge to sell you.

 

[plymkr]

Not only are we giving up a 3rd and a 5th next year but we basically are signing him for only one season. On a team that isn’t one player away.

His rookie deal runs out and why Steelers traded him as he seems unwilling to negotiate. On top of that he’s a head case. His emotions are difficult to keep in check.

He was fined for using an expletive on his eye black against the Cowboys. He also drew wide spread criticism in 2023 for what could generously be described as the attentive downfield blocking for his teammates.

Considering his volatility, the Steelers didn’t seem interested in signing Pickens to a contract extension running out of patience for the talented but mercurial former 2nd round pick. A 3rd and 5th looks like they found an anxious taker.

If you’re basing the idea that Pickens was a poor risk on the draft pick then I don’t agree. If you factor in all the guys on one year prove it deals and the fact that Pickens is in a probe deal then we’re going to receive a lot of comp picks. That will help mitigate the loss of the third. So to me the risk isn’t the draft picks, that’ll be a wash.

For me the real risk/gamble is his behavior and what will that do on the field and in the locker room. Also another risk is if he plays well. Ironically if this works out great we’re almost in a worse spot. If Pickens plays to potential we will have a very potent balanced offense. I would hate to have a very balanced explosive offense for only one year and then have to reload. Personally I would have rather we waited until next year’s draft and use our #1 on a WR and have him for 4-5 years on a rookie deal. Then if we find gold and our offense is balanced we have that offense in place for 4 years.

So the gamble is what happens if he plays very well and we advance in the playoffs. Do we pay him 30-33 million APY or do we start over? To me that’s the gamble. For 2025 I think this was a win for us in the trade. Depending on finances and contracts, it kind of depends how things shake out. I do know that I don’t want to lose Tyler Smith because we have to sign Pickens to 30 million.

So as you can see I’m conflicted on this. I’m happy for 2025 but concerned how it may shake out in the future and I have concerns about behavior issues. The one thing I’m not too concerned about is the 3rd rounder. That will wash itself out moving forward. And we’ve wasted 2nd and 3rds and 4ths. I like the aggressive gamble myself but I don’t like the behavior issues or the last season on contract issue. JMO

 

[Rayman70]

And somehow they ended up with 9 picks after making 3 trades.

No matter what we do positive, some will never give any credit to the front office. I mean, I get it.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

lol we get a comp pick back
Trade is an absolute no brainer
Pay closer attention

we get a comp pick back that's much lower than the original pick. for a one year rental. oh, we also gave up a 5th for a 6th...so essentially trading down to get a one year rental.

was this team one player away from being a championship team? were they one WR away from superbowl?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

So, a positive outcome is impossible in your mind.

No surprise.

Some of you would complain if we traded a 5th for Pat Mahomes

not with this move. not with this defense. there is no positive outcome. we are not going to go from one of the worst defenses in the league, even before injuries to a top 5 defense to be able to actually compete in the playoffs.

if you traded a 5th for mahomes, I would do back flips in the street naked...not sure if you want to see that, but I would be doing it.

 

[DuncanIso]

You are missing my point…a third round compensatory pick is actually a fourth round pick.

This trade looks much better if Pickens is extended. You would think those dummies talked about that but Nepo Boy loves his 1 year vet minimum deals so Pickens is probably a one year wonder that cost another premium pick.

Odds are we get a late round comp pick.

 

[kskboys]

Not only are we giving up a 3rd and a 5th next year but we basically are signing him for only one season. On a team that isn’t one player away.

His rookie deal runs out and why Steelers traded him as he seems unwilling to negotiate. On top of that he’s a head case. His emotions are difficult to keep in check.

He was fined for using an expletive on his eye black against the Cowboys. He also drew wide spread criticism in 2023 for what could generously be described as the attentive downfield blocking for his teammates.

Considering his volatility, the Steelers didn’t seem interested in signing Pickens to a contract extension running out of patience for the talented but mercurial former 2nd round pick. A 3rd and 5th looks like they found an anxious taker.

Well, you gotta look at it from Jerry's POV. We are one player away. One player away from relevance.

Pickens is a good talent. Low end #1/Top tier #2 type. He will change us from a 7-8 win type team to a 9-10 win type team.

And what does Jerry just have to have? Relevance. Pickens makes us a contender to make the playoffs. And that is all Jerry desires. All he knows how to do.

 

[kskboys]

Essentially, Dallas got Pickens, Mingo and a 2027 7th rd pick for a 3rd, 4th and a 2027 5th.
That's not a bad deal at all IMHO.

Trading anything for Mingo is a bad deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Diehardblues]

No matter what we do positive, some will never give any credit to the front office. I mean, I get it.

We can give credit when it’s due. Time will tell. This could turn out to be a good trade.

But there are enough concerns with issues mentioned that raise some criticism.

It might be different if we didnt already have quite a long laundry mishaps in recent decades from our dysfunctional leadership.

 

[Diehardblues]

I dunno.
But as I suggested, we should get a decent comp pick on the back end to offset the 3rd.

And keep in mind Tolbert. Picked in the 3rd.

4years of Tolbert or 1 year of Pickens?
Pickens is a difference maker.

No doubt it has the potential to be a good trade. But there are enough issues and concerns to draw some criticism.

And if the comp pick becomes a 3rd then it looks even better. But if he walks next year and we lose that 3rd then it will be looked back on more harshly. I think that’s fair .