The Cowboys Next Move Feels Like a George Pickens Extension

[blueblood70]

Sure, they could offer a 5th for Pat Mahomes too.

You're just dense about the definition of "can't."

Teams aren't going to offer trades before negotiating with Pickens because they won't take on the risk of long-term contract uncertainty. Dallas isn't going to accept anything less than two firsts right now because the tag sets the offer sheet price. Legally, other teams can offer whatever they want. Functionally, they can't.

Dude, you’re making excuses and we’re just going in circles. I’m saying, where are the reports that he’s negotiating with other teams? Where’s the info on his asking price, years, AAV, guaranteed money? Zero interest means exactly that—no team is talking to George Pickens, or else we’d hear about it. There’s no market. If he was negotiating, there’d be rumors or smoke, but there’s nothing. That’s my point. And no one’s talking about a 5th-round pick—how about something realistic like a 1st, or a 1st and a 2nd, or a 1st and a 3rd, or two 2nds and a 4th? But there are literally zero offers, so a 5th isn’t even in the conversation.

I’m talking about a realistic, fair offer, and they haven’t made one. You keep using excuses like “not before negotiating with Pickens,” but why isn’t Pickens negotiating? He’s had four weeks. Everyone has more money, and he knows he can’t get it here. There’s been no negotiation between the Cowboys and him, so why isn’t he out there? And if he wanted to be traded, you sign the tag—it makes it easier, and you could do a sign-and-trade. I’m done with this. You don’t get it. You’ve put yourself in a corner because you can’t backtrack now. I gave you the rules: he can start negotiating at any time, and any team can make offers to him and the Cowboys at any moment. The fact that he hasn’t talked to a single team, and vice versa, is very telling—and you still don’t get it.

You're making stuff up There's no ghost market because there's no market He's had four weeks to begin negotiations of any kind with any team and there's no story with the Cowboys there's always a story even if it was a made up rumor There hasn't been a single bit of rumors or fake stories or real stories no smoke just like with Aubrey no smoke..

Nobody seems interested in George Pickens right now because they don’t think they can work with David and George, which feels more realistic than your theory. There are no negotiations because they haven’t even spoken to George yet. But why? Did he lose his voice, leave town, or go out of the country? Nobody knows where he is—he’s basically M.I.A. And this isn’t a vacation; this is his career. He’s had four weeks, and there hasn’t been a single story about negotiations, numbers, or even the basics of a contract.

That’s why I believe I’m right—there’s no market for George because people think David and George’s asking price is too high for his current situation. Maybe they’d offer some smaller deal or just one first-round pick to start things off, but nobody has, because there’s no market. If there were, negotiations would’ve started by now.

 

[blueblood70]

When you hear about a player being traded on the franchise tag, it follows a very specific sequence:

1. Agreement in Principle: The original team finds a trade partner and they agree on the draft pick compensation.
2. The New Deal: The player’s agent usually negotiates a new long-term contract with the receiving team.
3. The Signature: To make the deal legal, the player signs the franchise tender with their original team. This instantly puts them under a one-year contract.
   
   
   
4. The Execution: Once signed, the original team officially trades the player (and that one-year contract) to the new team, who then usually rips it up and signs the player to the pre-negotiated long-term extension.

So yes, the player must sign before the trade can be finalized. But the team can negotiate and execute that trade and often do, before then. GP can only refuse to sign for so long before the option of any extension is off the table (mid-July I believe this year).
The non-exclusive portion of the tag opens up all parties to agree where then all agree and sign off or all walk away with just the tag.

The signing early portion prevents Dallas from rescinding the offer. This isn't a massive risk but late in free agency doing so to free up cap space while recouping a R3 pick when he signs elsewhere isn't unthinkable if he has a major injury or off field issue. GP can lock in the 28M for sure by signing now. Not doing so is merely a suggestion of not liking the dela and wanting to get extended before committing to the team, i.e. likely holding out all camp and possibly weeks 1-2.

Again you're just saying what I've said and backtracking because you were wrong I already listened the exact scenario you're trying to tell me what I've already told you..

He cannot be traded until he’s signed the tag, plain and simple. You can’t do a sign-and-trade when there’s no deal on the table. That’s why I keep saying Blue is wrong—if anyone was interested in George, there would’ve been offers and negotiations by now. It’s been four weeks, so what’s he waiting for? Why wait until after the draft? I thought all the experts agreed the best time to trade is during the draft to get maximum value. Wouldn’t he want more offers? The Cowboys are willing to deal if a team is willing to pay him. This is going in circles—there have been no deals, no offers, so he can’t be traded until one is accepted and approved by all sides. You can’t do a sign-and-trade without an offer; it’s like trying to buy something that doesn’t exist. You can say it’s there, but if you can’t see it, why would you buy it?

TELL Me how is this scenario with the sign and trade going to work if there are no offers and no deals!!!

It’s strange that no move can be made unless there’s genuine outside interest in George Pickens. So far, there hasn’t been a hint of interest or any buzz, which says a lot about how he’s viewed, despite everyone here defending him and insisting he has a plan. If that plan is to do nothing for four weeks, it’s not a good one.

 

[HungryLion]

Oops

 

[Reid1boys]

That doesnt make your point.

Having a high powered offense with Pickens on it and the same if not a worse defense than last year is going to be more of the same, they arent in win now mode and signing Pickens isnt a win now move.

We have gone the high powered offense route multiple times. Our defense has shown up and the offense hasnt.

How does that prove your point?

Here is what you said:
Did we win the Super Bowl or make a championship game appearance im unaware of?

That defense had Micah on it. And the high powered offense didnt show up.


They added Clark and Quinton last year.. those were big pickups. They are going to add defense, defense and more defense in the draft this year, because we dont need to add offense. The offense isnt the problem.

My point was having a defense doesnt ensure anything. Having an offense doesnt ensure anything. You out the best team you can on the field, and there is no way in hell that our TEAM is better with Pickens not on it. So you play the cards you have. That means you keep pickens and you do all you can to improve the defense, which they started doing last year. The signed four DBs in the off season and are going to add mor ein the draft. How many players on defense that started in weeks 1-3 last year will be playing in week 1 this year?

Yes, they ARE in win now mode, regardless of what you say.

 

[Reid1boys]

If they want to be in win now they better add more talent next offseason. This offseason wasn't very good imo

you, nor I have a clue how good it was. EVERY season people in here say that was a dumb move... just like they did when we didnt bring in a kicker a few years ago and had to "Settle," for Aubrey

 

[phildadon86]

Here is what you said:
Did we win the Super Bowl or make a championship game appearance im unaware of?

That defense had Micah on it. And the high powered offense didnt show up.


They added Clark and Quinton last year.. those were big pickups. They are going to add defense, defense and more defense in the draft this year, because we dont need to add offense. The offense isnt the problem.

My point was having a defense doesnt ensure anything. Having an offense doesnt ensure anything. You out the best team you can on the field, and there is no way in hell that our TEAM is better with Pickens not on it. So you play the cards you have. That means you keep pickens and you do all you can to improve the defense, which they started doing last year. The signed four DBs in the off season and are going to add mor ein the draft. How many players on defense that started in weeks 1-3 last year will be playing in week 1 this year?

Yes, they ARE in win now mode, regardless of what you say.

Then they arent very smart.

You dont rebuild a defense in one off season. Especially when you dont sign a LB in FA when it was your weakest area on the field.

You keep arguing. This team may think they are in win now mode. They arent. IF they were, they would have actually made an attempt to go into this draft (with limited picks) to make this defense good. They didnt. They are praying that the new DC can fix their lack of players brought in. They do this all the time. They dont have enough picks to fix this defense in one offseason. Especially not using FA.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Then they arent very smart.

You dont rebuild a defense in one off season. Especially when you dont sign a LB in FA when it was your weakest area on the field.

You keep arguing. This team may think they are in win now mode. They arent. IF they were, they would have actually made an attempt to go into this draft (with limited picks) to make this defense good. They didnt. They are praying that the new DC can fix their lack of players brought in. They do this all the time. They dont have enough picks to fix this defense in one offseason. Especially not using FA.

They didnt do enough this offseason to even have a good season. Let alone be a contender imo. Hopefully im suprised

 

[tomokawan]

Stephen just said, they are not going to extend him. This is going to work out great! Talking out loud and now you tanked his trade value.

 

[Chasing6]

Really good article. Gets into the salary cap too.

The Cowboys Next Move Feels Like a George Pickens Extension
April 21, 2026,
by Cody Warren

George Pickens contract extension alt text: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens celebrates with the football in his hand during a game, as questions grow about whether he will land a contract extension.

The Brandon Aubrey deal is finally finished, and that puts my focus exactly where it belongs now. George Pickens.

If the Cowboys want more breathing room before the draft class hits the books, this is the next logical move. I don’t think this should be too complicated because Dallas already made the decision to franchise tag him.

Now they need to finish the job. Aubrey is signed, and the draft class is coming. The cap space is needed to get all the rookies into camp.

This is simple; sign George Pickens long term or trade him. The balls in your court Cowboys front office.

Much more: https://insidethestar.com/the-cowboys-next-move-feels-like-a-george-pickens-extension

Your feelings are way off.

 

[jterrell]

They can negotiate the trade parameters but they can’t execute.

As far as GP refusing to sign, he would only refuse to sign if he doesn’t like the deal, whether it’s because of money or other factors. The Texans tried to trade Clowney to Miami but he wouldn’t sign the tag because he didn’t want to play for them.

Signing early would be incredibly dumb on any players part. Pickens isn’t concerned about the tag being rescinded because he would become a FA…that is his dream scenario. The tag is protection for the team, not Pickens.

You will likely hear GP has been traded tomorrow night during the draft. Without him having signed his tag yet.

It will be contingent on him agreeing with the new team on an extension than becomes procedural.

During the course of this bickering today the team has announced they will not be negotiating any long term deal with him making that trade very likely.

 

[charron]

This is what happens when we assume things. The only thing that holds true is you can not believe anything this front office says.

 

[jterrell]

They didnt do enough this offseason to even have a good season. Let alone be a contender imo. Hopefully im suprised

This year was what last year SHOULD have been.
Year 1 of the rebuild.

 

[Chasing6]

You will likely hear GP has been traded tomorrow night during the draft. Without him having signed his tag yet.

It will be contingent on him agreeing with the new team on an extension than becomes procedural.

During the course of this bickering today the team has announced they will not be negotiating any long term deal with him making that trade very likely.

I don't think you can trade a draft pick. The new team drafts a player. Then after the fact be contingent on whether they can sign an extension or not.

So what then happens if they can't agree?

The original team is then stuck with the player that was drafted by the new team?

 

[Kwyn]

you are nuts. In three years from now half the roster will be different. There is no LONG term in th enfl.

Dak has played ten season, and may end up challenging Witten for most time (16).

 

[StarBoyz83]

Dak has played ten season, and may end up challenging Witten for most time (16).

I expect dak to sign another contract with Dallas after this one is done. Thats if he stays relatively healthy and still wants to play.

 

[Kwyn]

I expect dak to sign another contract with Dallas after this one is done. Thats if he stays relatively healthy and still wants to play.

I agree. He’ll be here as long as he wants

 

[Chasing6]

I expect dak to sign another contract with Dallas after this one is done. Thats if he stays relatively healthy and still wants to play.

You are correct and it most likely happens after this season.

No way they let him play for $76M in 2027 and $86M in 2028.

 

[Spottswoode]

You will likely hear GP has been traded tomorrow night during the draft. Without him having signed his tag yet.

It will be contingent on him agreeing with the new team on an extension than becomes procedural.

During the course of this bickering today the team has announced they will not be negotiating any long term deal with him making that trade very likely.

I don’t know how likely it is or isn’t. If you look through the thread you’ll see I brought up the trade theory based on the odd timing of today’s events. But it could just be tin foil on my part.

As for the rest, I was simply stating they can negotiate but can’t execute (your words). It was also smart to not sign his tag early. Pickens would love the tag to be rescinded so he could become a FA. The tag protects the team, not Pickens.

 

[DarkVader33]

You will likely hear GP has been traded tomorrow night during the draft. Without him having signed his tag yet.

It will be contingent on him agreeing with the new team on an extension than becomes procedural.

During the course of this bickering today the team has announced they will not be negotiating any long term deal with him making that trade very likely.

I guess you don’t understand how the tag works. He has to sign the tag to be traded. Again, he HAS to sign the tag to be traded. period.

 

[Reid1boys]

Dak has played ten season, and may end up challenging Witten for most time (16).

yep////becuase qbs dont come and go like the other positions. Unless you suck.