Extending Pickens

[Simpleton]

The Lions are the exact reason why I don't want to hear shit about how difficult extending Pickens will be, how maybe we should cut Osa or Clark or whatever else to make room, or any other nonsense. All it comes down to is whether or not the assholes running this team have the motivation and desire to do what needs to be done, or if they want to just keep twiddling their thumbs with half measures and hoping for the best.

This assumes Pickens can be had for somewhere in the 30-35 range, which should obviously be the case considering that Chase is at 40, Jefferson is at 35 and Lamb is at 34. If he's pushing for 40 I think you just have to franchise him and look to trade him, but if he (and his asshole agent) are somewhat reasonable looking for something in that 30-35 range then it's more than manageable given the following:

Lions contract extensions > $20M per year:

Goff - $53, St. Brown - $30, Williams - $26.6, Sewell - $28, Decker - $20, Hutchinson - $45, McNeill - $24, Joseph - $21.5

That's 8 players at the top of their cap with extensions averaging $20M/year or higher, 5 on offense (1 QB/2 WR's) and 3 on defense, and while obviously it's an oversimplification to only look at the AAV, it's representative of the sort of salary structure they've been able to manage. Add all of those averages up and you have about a total of $248M in terms of AAV.

And aside from that the Lions have a few mid-tier guys with deals in the $10-20M range like DJ Reed (16), DJ Reader (11) and even a RB in Montgomery at about 9/year.

Now look at where we'd be at if we extend Pickens at 34/year, the same as Lamb:

Dak - $60, Lamb - $34, Pickens - $34, T. Smith - $24, Quinnen - $24, Clark - $21, Osa - $20, Bland - $22.5

Again, 8 players including 1 QB/2 WR's just like the Lions, and if you add that up you have a total of $239M.

We even have a similar structure with a few guys in that $10-20 range in terms of Ferguson (12.5), Steele (16.5) and a RB in Williams who might be in that Montgomery range of 9/year. And obviously Steele might even be gone after this year, so you might be able to clear those numbers off the books more or less.

Obviously I'm assuming Diggs will be long gone after this season.

So even if we extend Pickens at damn near the top of the WR market we'd still have a salary structure that is very similar as the Lions, with room for a few guys in the $10-20 range, plus two 1's in next year's draft to add to it.

So it's obviously doable, it's just a matter of whether these bitches have the balls to do it.

 

[Smitty]

Would be nice if Pickens would come in below Lamb and if Dak would take a paycut at some point.

Also with Quinnen and Clark getting big bucks, I'm not saying we HAVE to move Osa, but, why wouldn't you?

Are we really going to run a 3-4 with Quinnen, Clark and Osa? If Osa is just getting pass rusher rotation snaps the money can be better spent, even if you don't "have to," move him. You can't find a taker in a trade?

 

[Genghis Khan]

Would be nice if Pickens would come in below Lamb and if Dak would take a paycut at some point.

Also with Quinnen and Clark getting big bucks, I'm not saying we HAVE to move Osa, but, why wouldn't you?

Are we really going to run a 3-4 with Quinnen, Clark and Osa? If Osa is just getting pass rusher rotation snaps the money can be better spent, even if you don't "have to," move him. You can't find a taker in a trade?

We have to see how the rest of the season plays out but if the defensive line looks great I wouldn't mess with it other than adding a pass rusher. I would not subtract from it, salary be damned.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

We have to see how the rest of the season plays out but if the defensive line looks great I wouldn't mess with it other than adding a pass rusher. I would not subtract from it, salary be damned.

Yeah we need to stop subtracting just for the sake of "cap" management. You subtract the guys who suck and are getting paid. Steele and Diggs, I'm looking at you two. We finally have a strength at DT, the last thing I want to do is go, well let's get rid of one of these guys. That's how you continue to be mediocre.

And you might find a taker in a trade but I doubt it's any better than a third or fourth.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Here's the wildcard with Pickens. Personally I don't care that much if he's balling out, but what happens when he gets a big time paycheck? Obviously something already happened with him being benched in the first series and this isn't new for Pickens.

The team might prefer to move on while his value is at its highest. There's certainly an argument for that.

Do the Steelers Miss George Pickens?

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac tells Rich Eisen why talented-but-disruptive WR George Pickens is not missed at all by the Steelers even though he’...

youtube.com

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Here's the wildcard with Pickens. Personally I don't care that much if he's balling out, but what happens when he gets a big time paycheck? Obviously something already happened with him being benched in the first series and this isn't new for Pickens.

The team might prefer to move on while his value is at its highest. There's certainly an argument for that.

Do the Steelers Miss George Pickens?

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac tells Rich Eisen why talented-but-disruptive WR George Pickens is not missed at all by the Steelers even though he’...

youtube.com

He is definitely a knucklehead. And he has never gotten a big pay day so who knows.

 

[Texas Ace]

Just pay him and hope he doesn't get too crazy.

Who knows? Maybe you get lucky and he appreciates the pay day and stays mostly in line because of it.

But I think we absolutely have to pay him if the idea is to maximize the 3 year window of opportunity to make a run that we have..... Or at least, as much of a chance as a Cowboys team can have.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Just pay him and hope he doesn't get too crazy.

Who knows? Maybe you get lucky and he appreciates the pay day and stays mostly in line because of it.

But I think we absolutely have to pay him if the idea is to maximize the 3 year window of opportunity to make a run that we have..... Or at least, as much of a chance as a Cowboys team can have.

Yeah I think the crazy can be managed. Mostly because he is an ultra competitive guy who wants to win. Diggs for example is a knucklehead who I just don't think was ever ultra competitive. He shied away from contact and was a shitty tackler from day one. Dude has always made business decisions. And paying him combined with the injuries just sort of sent him off the rails.

It's a risk with Pickens. But I think he is very passionate about winning and dominating on the football field. So I think it's at least manageable. You can't have many guys like him on your team or things get out of control. But I think Pickens talent makes it worth it. Honestly, I'm not sure he is that far from Parsons in personality. I just hope we don't see Pickens faking a back injury and laying on a table on the sidelines during preseason next year.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Just pay him and hope he doesn't get too crazy.

Who knows? Maybe you get lucky and he appreciates the pay day and stays mostly in line because of it.

But I think we absolutely have to pay him if the idea is to maximize the 3 year window of opportunity to make a run that we have..... Or at least, as much of a chance as a Cowboys team can have.

Yeah that's how I look at it too. But if they got a couple high picks for him it would be pretty tempting and I'd understand if they did it.

But ultimately I think he's more valuable on the field for us than flipping him for assets.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Yeah that's how I look at it too. But if they got a couple high picks for him it would be pretty tempting and I'd understand if they did it.

But ultimately I think he's more valuable on the field for us than flipping him for assets.

Yeah I just don't even know where I draw the line on picks. All I know is if I was the GM of the Chiefs or one of these other teams struggling at receiver with a great QB. I'd happily give up a first and third.

 

[Simpleton]

Here's the wildcard with Pickens. Personally I don't care that much if he's balling out, but what happens when he gets a big time paycheck? Obviously something already happened with him being benched in the first series and this isn't new for Pickens.

The team might prefer to move on while his value is at its highest. There's certainly an argument for that.

Do the Steelers Miss George Pickens?

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac tells Rich Eisen why talented-but-disruptive WR George Pickens is not missed at all by the Steelers even though he’...

youtube.com

We're kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't with him because he might be a top 5ish WR in the league but you know once he's paid you're going to get some weird stuff here and there.

Supposedly Dak is one of the "greatest leaders everrrrr" so let him deal with it.

 

[Simpleton]

Would be nice if Pickens would come in below Lamb and if Dak would take a paycut at some point.

Also with Quinnen and Clark getting big bucks, I'm not saying we HAVE to move Osa, but, why wouldn't you?

Are we really going to run a 3-4 with Quinnen, Clark and Osa? If Osa is just getting pass rusher rotation snaps the money can be better spent, even if you don't "have to," move him. You can't find a taker in a trade?

I think Osa is kind of like Parsons in that he's a really good pass rusher but just kind of one dimensional because he's average at best, if not a liability against the run.

So to me he still has value, especially if the idea is to create a pocket of overwhelming strength on the defense.

Like could we get by with just Clark and Williams?

Sure, but Osa's pass rush/explosiveness only amplifies what those two do, and assuming that Clark becomes more of a run stuffer than a pass rusher as he ages over the next year or two I think a guy like Osa becomes even more valuable in tandem with them.

If there was a clear opportunity cost to keeping him that we just couldn't do without getting rid of him (like extending Pickens), sure let him go, but I'm not seeing anything obvious as far as next offseason and going into 2026.

 

[Smitty]

I think I'd understand either way with Pickens. It's risky. He's great.

But on draft day if you could get two firsts and use one to take a WR like Boston, fine.

But the thing is, get out ahead of this. Either feel comfortable and extend him or start planning to move him.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I think I'd understand either way with Pickens. It's risky. He's great.

But on draft day if you could get two firsts and use one to take a WR like Boston, fine.

But the thing is, get out ahead of this. Either feel comfortable and extend him or start planning to move him.

Agree with this, and that's what I was trying to say the other day (yesterday?)... either way, we're going to come out ahead, even if the one or two players we take with the picks we'd get for him aren't as spectacular as he is. (Not many players could be.)

But I'm not sure there's a way to get out ahead of it, because his agent is going to want to wait until FA and open the bidding. I'm sure we'll have to franchise him, go through all that drama, then let his agent find a team that will pay him and is willing to give up picks for him.

 

[Simpleton]

I think I'd understand either way with Pickens. It's risky. He's great.

But on draft day if you could get two firsts and use one to take a WR like Boston, fine.

But the thing is, get out ahead of this. Either feel comfortable and extend him or start planning to move him.

Would you trade him for a single 1?

Let's say in the early to mid 20's?

 

[Genghis Khan]

Would you trade him for a single 1?

Let's say in the early to mid 20's?

Personally I would not. I think he's more valuable to us than a single pick, even if it's a first.

 

[Simpleton]

Personally I would not. I think he's more valuable to us than a single pick, even if it's a first.

I think it depends on how much he's asking for (which we'll never know for sure) and also where our other two picks in the first end up being.

But yea, in general I think I'd lean towards not doing it.

 

[bleedsblue42021117]

Would be nice if Pickens would come in below Lamb and if Dak would take a paycut at some point.

Also with Quinnen and Clark getting big bucks, I'm not saying we HAVE to move Osa, but, why wouldn't you?

Are we really going to run a 3-4 with Quinnen, Clark and Osa? If Osa is just getting pass rusher rotation snaps the money can be better spent, even if you don't "have to," move him. You can't find a taker in a trade?

agreed

 

[Genghis Khan]

I think it depends on how much he's asking for (which we'll never know for sure) and also where our other two picks in the first end up being.

But yea, in general I think I'd lean towards not doing it.

That's where I draw the line though. I wouldn't make the decision based on what contract he's asking for. The money part I don't care about at all.

I'm not going to trade him for a single first and hope that the draft pick is as good as Pickens just so that we can save money. I'm done with that line of thinking. They fielded a team this year while being 30 or 40 million under the cap. Fuck that. Spend it.

 

[Simpleton]

That's where I draw the line though. I wouldn't make the decision based on what contract he's asking for. The money part I don't care about at all.

I'm not going to trade him for a single first and hope that the draft pick is as good as Pickens just so that we can save money. I'm done with that line of thinking. They fielded a team this year while being 30 or 40 million under the cap. Fuck that. Spend it.

Yes but what if he's being completely ridiculous asking for 40+/year?

I'm good with anything up to about 35ish but there's a point where it does start to get a bit infeasible.

I think it's very unlikely that happens, but just throwing it out as a caveat.