Pickens: "there's no he gets the ball, I get the ball, we work off each other"

[gimmesix]

I agree. Dez was never a great route runner, he just used his superior physical skills to just "see ball, get ball". Once he no longer had the same burst and explosion his play eroded quickly. Pickens is still just 24, so even if his routes never improve he has several peak seasons left.

Could be why I'd go with the franchise tag for a couple of years if he plays at a high level. Keeps him on his toes and allows us to keep him through his prime years. Dez started falling off after Year 5. Pickens is going into Year 4.

From my understanding, the tag next year may be around $28 million, which could be less than he'll be seeking if he has a strong year. Of course, I don't know how Pickens feels about the tag. He could balk and hold out.

 

[CCBoy]

True. always thought it would be Rodgers, eventually.

Five seasons and Dak may be close to Rogers' stat accumulations.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Could be why I'd go with the franchise tag for a couple of years if he plays at a high level. Keeps him on his toes and allows us to keep him through his prime years. Dez started falling off after Year 5. Pickens is going into Year 4.

From my understanding, the tag next year may be around $28 million, which could be less than he'll be seeking if he has a strong year. Of course, I don't know how Pickens feels about the tag. He could balk and hold out.

That's the beauty of this trade. If Pickens plays well enough to get number one receiver money somewhere, Dallas is in line to get a 3rd round comp pick for him. So they get an elite number two receiver for a season and by 2027 they get the premium pick they traded to get him back again.

 

[gimmesix]

That's the beauty of this trade. If Pickens plays well enough to get number one receiver money somewhere, Dallas is in line to get a 3rd round comp pick for him. So they get an elite number two receiver for a season and by 2027 they get the premium pick they traded to get him back again.

I'd prefer if he plays well enough and stays in line to keep him. There are teams playing two WRs top money, and that didn't seem to prevent the Eagles from winning a Super Bowl. We've got areas of weakness, but receiver doesn't have to be one.

 

[youngjerryjones]

sometimes it's not up to you, and it's on gods time. He controlled what he could control - which was being the top 3 deep threat with terrible QB play across his career.

he was known to be like this in Georgia, didn't stop him from being a phenomenal X receiver. To be honest, if the CB is jamming me up i'd be down to have a guy who wants to slap him in the face and show some aggressiveness - the whole mantra about the team is we are not physical.

we get a dez bryant esque X receiver who takes no non sense and the team is asking why we didn't get the walter payton man of the year instead. It's football - someone puts his hands on you - fight back man... when is that ever a bad thing unless it's coming with untimely penalties?

 

[JW82]

This^^^^^ if he plays anywhere near elite level, there's no way Jerry is letting him walk w/o a new deal or tag.

100% jerry does some dumb...stuff, be he doesn't let 25 year old stars walk.

 

[TwoDeep3]

One of the aspects to his attitude I latched on to when reading about him is he wants to win. It was suggested some of his antics are attributed to the Steelers not succeeding. That might be a good sign, but then this is Jerry's World.

 

[America's Cowboy]

I think people are being unfair to Pickens. Yes, he's been a diva, been immature, been a hot head. But the guy is not a criminal, he loves football, and he wants to win.

Dez grew up over time; and if you want to talk sideline histrionics, there's a ton of similarity between what Bryant did and what Pickens did. Let's give him a chance in a brand new environment.

Agreed.

Also, at times, suddenly being traded to another team wakes you up to reality and forces you to look in the mirror very hard. Let's hope George Pickens is realizing this reality that he needs to mature and change for his own betterment, his new team's sake and his family's sake and his future's sake.

 

[cowboyed]

I hope so, but he definitely was prepped before the press conference/interview

To me it doesn't matter if Pickens was or wasn't prepped and it is speculation as to what degree. What matters is he is playing wide receiver for the Cowboys at least this upcoming season and hope that he is scary productive and a great complement to CeeDee.

 

[Rayman70]

I think we will have him at a high level for at least 2 years. On his first year of his time here, he will be fine, a contract year. Then I think we extend him 3 years. Each year of that deal will be essentially one year deals that are escapable if he has any issues. I think the first year of his new deal he will be fine again, but my worry will come AFTER the honeymoon period of the new deal or extension. I guess you must take the good with the bad with a player so talented as him. Randy Moss was this way.

 

[Rayman70]

Agreed.

Also, at times, suddenly being traded to another team wakes you up to reality and forces you to look in the mirror very hard. Let's hope George Pickens is realizing this reality that he needs to mature and change for his own betterment, his new team's sake and his family's sake and his future's sake.

This

 

[BoyzBlaster]

I don't think he's going to be bad about demanding the ball unless we're losing.

Fingers crossed but bear in mind Vegas has us losing the majority of our games.

 

[Blast From The Past]

Drop the egos and play for the team

 

[Hawkeye0202]

What I’ve gathered from Pitt media is they didn’t want to re-sign him and knew the longer they waited the less value they get. They believed he was gonna hold out eventually for a contract.

I think this came down to them loving his talent but too much of the other stuff ( which is correctable ) made them uncomfortable giving him a long-term deal, especially with only a year to decide. Considering his multitude of issues, what does that say about the standards to his teammates if he's rewarded with a new 2nd contract? This is why their GM says both parties agreed it was time to move on. This way, Pickens gets a year to rehab his character with a fresh QB and team.

 

[Diehardblues]

He’s used to being the #1 WR leading Steelers in receptions and yards. Cant imagine any problems being #2 LOL

 

[LysleE]

Of course Pickens is saying this…he is the new WR on a new team and in the last year of his contract…let’s wait and see if he is saying the same thing when Dallas is 4-7 and Dak is struggling to see the field and the footballs aren’t coming his way.

 

[Runwildboys]

I mean, this is encouraging. Hopefully the words lead to action.

I got possibly trying to trade him since they got Metcalf and lost a 2nd in the 25 draft, prior to the draft.
But to trade him now, just wonder why they threw the towel early for a possible DK-Pickens duo .
Did the Stealers trade him for a fresh start for both sides? Or did they just not like his actions from 2024-25 and Dallas came back to the table?

I wonder if part of their reasoning was knowing that next year they either had to pay him or let him go as a FA, which according to so many here, is stupid when Dallas does it.

 

[gimmesix]

Fingers crossed but bear in mind Vegas has us losing the majority of our games.

I had us going somewhere between 7-10 and 10-7. I think with this addition, I lean toward the 10-7. Last year was a bit of an anomaly because of all the injuries. However, I'm not sure we can get back to the three straight 12-5s that we had under McCarthy because a) I don't know what kind of head coach No-Schott will be and b) the East is better overall than it was when we were compiling those records.

 

[dupree89]

I had us going somewhere between 7-10 and 10-7. I think with this addition, I lean toward the 10-7. Last year was a bit of an anomaly because of all the injuries. However, I'm not sure we can get back to the three straight 12-5s that we had under McCarthy because a) I don't know what kind of head coach No-Schott will be and b) the East is better overall than it was when we were compiling those records.

thats a very fair summary.

with a new staff and some new players we're going to be counting on, I'm really interested in how the early schedule breaks.

if its easier early..maybe starting: NYG, @ raiders, cardinals....maybe we can get some early confidence.

whereas if they deal us a brutal start like: green bay, at philly, KC....I wonder how things will go after that.

as they say JMO

 

[jazzcat22]

Fingers crossed but bear in mind Vegas has us losing the majority of our games.

It may have changed since this trade. Or may change on their next update.
As of May 4th they had us at 7.5 wins for the over / under.

Anyone that already took the over, their odds just went up.