Pickens is worth the gamble!

[Cowboyny]

Yeah I think in the short term it's great for Dallas. The guy is what we desperately needed. Young, fast, long, athletic, a good contested ball receiver and a very dangerous deep threat. To get him for what they gave up is a good deal.

Long term I worry a bit more about his issues. Time will tell if he matures and excepts his new role. Winning will go a long way to helping that issue.

My boss is a huge Steelers fan and I told him about the trade and asked him what his thoughts were. His response was "Really? I wish the coaching staff (Pittsburg's) would get traded to Russia!" He wasn't very happy about it.

It's a risk/reward trade. For what they gave up, it is reasonable risk to bet on a talented player.

 

[exciter]

-Just 24, with zero injury concerns
-He is comp eligible, meaning worst case, if he leaves in 2026, Cowboys would receive a pick back.
-Will be motivated, playing on a contract year.
-Excellent complement to Lamb, where teams will think twice about doubling Lamb on every pass
-He could easily step into the #1 WR role if Lamb ever went down with injury.
-Late Day 2 pick isn't a big cost, considering his age and production. There won't be a better receiver to draft in the 3rd rd.
-Dak/Lamb just signed big extensions, it will be up to them to keep Pickens in line.
-Jerry always does an extensive background check around the league about the player.
-He has never been an off the field problem with the law, is well liked, where he simply needs to grow up.

3rd and 5th for a one year rental and head case Pittsburgh was desperately trying to move away from.
I can usually eventually talk myself into some sort of logic in the things Jerry does if I close my eyes and try really really hard!
This might just be the dumbest thing that surpassed the Roy Williams trade!

 

[Cowboyny]

Hmm... okay you sold it to me. But it's too late to take back the F that I graded the trade in the other thread.

We all know Mike Tomlin is a great guy. My biggest concern is if he can't control Pickens, I don't think anyone in our organization can. People said Mike was crazy for moving on from Antonio Brown. Turns out he was right about that. Let's hope Pickens doesn't turn out to be another Antonio Brown.

But solid takes from you though.

Tomlin is very rigid, my way or the highway. Might not be the best way to manage this type of personality. Time will tell.

 

[Cowboyny]

3rd and 5th for a one year rental and head case Pittsburgh was desperately trying to move away from.
I can usually eventually talk myself into some sort of logic in the things Jerry does if I close my eyes and try really really hard!
This might just be the dumbest thing that surpassed the Roy Williams trade!

It has the potential to be more then just a rental. They also didn't want to pay two WR's when they don't even have a QB yet. Roy Williams cost this team two #1 picks, a 3rd is nothing compared to that.

 

[FVSTONE]

-Just 24, with zero injury concerns
-He is comp eligible, meaning worst case, if he leaves in 2026, Cowboys would receive a pick back.
-Will be motivated, playing on a contract year.
-Excellent complement to Lamb, where teams will think twice about doubling Lamb on every pass
-He could easily step into the #1 WR role if Lamb ever went down with injury.
-Late Day 2 pick isn't a big cost, considering his age and production. There won't be a better receiver to draft in the 3rd rd.
-Dak/Lamb just signed big extensions, it will be up to them to keep Pickens in line.
-Jerry always does an extensive background check around the league about the player.
-He has never been an off the field problem with the law, is well liked, where he simply needs to grow up.

The Cowboy's brain trust is doing everything possible to help the offensive side of the ball, but there is one glaring issue they can't fix and that is Dak Prescott!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jazzcat22]

Didn't happed this yr, but they did recoop their pick last year when they traded back. Point is, they can always get more picks.

They had 9 picks for 2026 draft. Now have 8. Still plenty of picks.

 

[DanTanna]

He’s a massive malcontent cancer. Do not want.

 

[Cowboyny]

They had 9 picks for 2026 draft. Now have 8. Still plenty of picks.

I agree and they were able to still have a good draft without that 4th this year.

 

[darthseinfeld]

We now have a true end zone threat.

Well thats not really Pickens strength

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

-Just 24, with zero injury concerns
-He is comp eligible, meaning worst case, if he leaves in 2026, Cowboys would receive a pick back.
-Will be motivated, playing on a contract year.
-Excellent complement to Lamb, where teams will think twice about doubling Lamb on every pass
-He could easily step into the #1 WR role if Lamb ever went down with injury.
-Late Day 2 pick isn't a big cost, considering his age and production. There won't be a better receiver to draft in the 3rd rd.
-Dak/Lamb just signed big extensions, it will be up to them to keep Pickens in line.
-Jerry always does an extensive background check around the league about the player.
-He has never been an off the field problem with the law, is well liked, where he simply needs to grow up.

we throw mid round picks like they are worthless...

I would have rather traded for a defensive player instead.

 

[Denim Chicken]

One thing about the comp pick is it's dependent on the next contract he signs and if he does in Dallas what he did in Pittsburgh I don't think teams will be lining up to give him a big contract.

There's a very real scenario where you gave up your 3rd round pick for one season of a malcontent.

Teams will always sign talent unless there is some legal issue

 

[jazzcat22]

Well thats not really Pickens strength

Depends on the QB, he really did not have one in Pittsburgh.

 

[exciter]

It has the potential to be more then just a rental. They also didn't want to pay two WR's when they don't even have a QB yet. Roy Williams cost this team two #1 picks, a 3rd is nothing compared to that.

At best he has a good season and his contract demands are 25m plus which they won’t be able to pay.
Or he flames out (more likely) and they don’t want to pay him.
So it is takes out a valuable 3rd at a needed position when the 1st will almost certainly be a WR next year.
All for a player who barely moves the needle this season!

 

[rocknrobcowboy]

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

Good move by the upper brass.

 

[Acceptablename]

-Just 24, with zero injury concerns
-He is comp eligible, meaning worst case, if he leaves in 2026, Cowboys would receive a pick back.
-Will be motivated, playing on a contract year.
-Excellent complement to Lamb, where teams will think twice about doubling Lamb on every pass
-He could easily step into the #1 WR role if Lamb ever went down with injury.
-Late Day 2 pick isn't a big cost, considering his age and production. There won't be a better receiver to draft in the 3rd rd.
-Dak/Lamb just signed big extensions, it will be up to them to keep Pickens in line.
-Jerry always does an extensive background check around the league about the player.
-He has never been an off the field problem with the law, is well liked, where he simply needs to grow up.

Thank you, if Pickens wasn't a diva we'd never got him for what we paid.

 

[Jumbo075]

-Just 24, with zero injury concerns
-He is comp eligible, meaning worst case, if he leaves in 2026, Cowboys would receive a pick back.
-Will be motivated, playing on a contract year.
-Excellent complement to Lamb, where teams will think twice about doubling Lamb on every pass
-He could easily step into the #1 WR role if Lamb ever went down with injury.
-Late Day 2 pick isn't a big cost, considering his age and production. There won't be a better receiver to draft in the 3rd rd.
-Dak/Lamb just signed big extensions, it will be up to them to keep Pickens in line.
-Jerry always does an extensive background check around the league about the player.
-He has never been an off the field problem with the law, is well liked, where he simply needs to grow up.

I like Pickens better than Brandon Cooks - although I think Cooks had some veteran savvy in him that might be missing from Pickens. I like Pickens length, and that he is a natural hands catcher, not a body catcher.

With a good QB, Pickens is a 1000 yard receiver. He may not be a 1700 yard receiver, but 900 - 1200 yards per year is more than the Cowboys were getting out of Brandon Cooks.

 

[speedkilz88]

He’s a massive malcontent cancer. Do not want.

He's just like Dez. All reports he's a great locker room guy but has been late for meetings and pouts on the field.

 

[Rockport]

-Just 24, with zero injury concerns
-He is comp eligible, meaning worst case, if he leaves in 2026, Cowboys would receive a pick back.
-Will be motivated, playing on a contract year.
-Excellent complement to Lamb, where teams will think twice about doubling Lamb on every pass
-He could easily step into the #1 WR role if Lamb ever went down with injury.
-Late Day 2 pick isn't a big cost, considering his age and production. There won't be a better receiver to draft in the 3rd rd.
-Dak/Lamb just signed big extensions, it will be up to them to keep Pickens in line.
-Jerry always does an extensive background check around the league about the player.
-He has never been an off the field problem with the law, is well liked, where he simply needs to grow up.

It’s refreshing for Jerry to realize a weakness and actually go out and do something about it instead of giving it lip service. Pickens is an excellent WR and fits well with Lamb who thrives in the slot. Pickens is a true wideout who can stretch the field. They needed a vet WR more than a draft pick who would take a year or 2 to become fully functional. Pickens is 24 and just entering his prime. Great job Jerry. Have to give him kudos after so many failures in acquiring the necessary talent.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Not gonna lie, the trade woke my fandom back up a little

Yes. If nothing else, the team should be more entertaining to watch. Watching this bunch last season was like watching paint dry.