Does the George Pickens Trade Make Sense?

00:00:04
Speaker 1: Welcome to NFL Daily, where we're standing by our evaluation of George Pickens in the draft class in twenty twenty two.

00:00:11
Speaker 2: I'm Greg Rosenthal.

00:00:12
Speaker 1: I'm here with my friend John Ledyard from Audibles and Analytics. We had a whole plan for today's show and it was thrown out the window when we got some rare breaking news in May George Pickens to the Cowboys, and no one I wanted to talk.

00:00:27
Speaker 2: To more than John Ledyard. What's going on, John?

00:00:30
Speaker 3: Not too much?

00:00:30
Speaker 1: Man.

00:00:31
Speaker 3: I appreciate you having me always excited and great to be able to talk some ball with you, especially a big Steelers trade. Not often that we well, more often lately that we get these involving Steelers wide receivers. So it'd be fun to break it down with you.

00:00:43
Speaker 1: Yes, it's been in my head that I overrated Pickens slightly, had him second that year.

00:00:48
Speaker 2: I believe behind a lave, you know.

00:00:51
Speaker 1: Looking at Garrett Wilson and Drake London, how they've done that was probably not the right choice, but always held out hope.

00:00:56
Speaker 3: And he's talking to a Trailer Birks wide receiver truther. So yeah, look.

00:01:02
Speaker 1: Hey, Pickens is at least having a good career relatively, although you'd never want to get traded for a future third round pick going into the fourth year of your career. Here's the trade, Okay, George Pickens and a seventh round pick in twenty or sixth round pick in twenty twenty seven go to the Cowboys. They send back a third round pick in next year's draft that's twenty twenty six, and a twenty twenty seven fifth round pick. That last extra pick was interesting to me, essentially. Yeah, the Cowboys all they had to give up was a long trade down from the third to the sixth round in a future draft, and they get a the Steelers get a fifth round pick back. What were your initial kind of big picture thoughts when this came down, Mine, just very quickly was it actually makes sense for both side, and it makes sense for me, like, I'm going to be more interested to watch the Cowboys this year. It'll be great for content including today. What were your thoughts.

00:02:00
Speaker 3: Yeah, the player type makes sense for Dallas. We can talk about the intricacies of Pickens specifically and how that all will play out no matter where he is. But if you're just saying, oh, the Cowboys got a vertical wide receiver who can win back shorter balls can certainly win and contest to catch situations. We'll talk a little bit about that and the numbers there being not quite what they wants what they were in his rookie year, but still I have hope that that can be better. But I think the prototype makes sense for Dallas. The question to me is just where do you consider the risk factor? And that's to be honest with Dallas, though, like haven't we been asking, we can't do both right. We can't ask Jerry take the risk, go out there and make a move, and he hasn't, and they've kind of had been in this window where they should win and they don't win, and it's so we've criticized for that. And then he goes out and he makes the move. And so I think from Dallas's perspective, you have to at least see the vision for it. It's a lot of risk, I think, and that's where I kind of come back to the concerns just with the profile who pickens is and where my concerns are there.

00:02:58
Speaker 1: Yeah, and we'll get into that, but I think if you look at the risk, there's a lot of things that have to be taken into account. Number one is his contract situation. He's entering the final year of his deal. According to Clarence Hill, who does a good job covering the team, the George Pickens is not looking to get a contract extension. He quote wants to show he's a top guy this year. So it doesn't sound like either side, I'm guessing or would be that interested in the contract.

00:03:28
Speaker 2: Now.

00:03:28
Speaker 1: It's going to be a wait and see in the Cowboys, of course have the franchise tag if he just totally balled out, and they could use it that way. So you're paying for one year of George Pickens. But what's the price. It's a third round pick, that's a significant pick. I think it's interesting, and we'll start, I guess from the Cowboys side of it. I think it's pretty obvious the Steelers had a price for George Pickens. I heard coming into the draft, and Daniel Jeremiah alluded to it on our podcast together that he was probably gone the second that DK metcalf trade happened. But the Steelers established the price. I think they wanted a Day two pick for him. They just did not get it, and so they held on. It sounds like this trade was in the works for a while. They felt like they had this coming that yeah, they will would get their Day two pick. It just was gonna be in twenty twenty six. And to me, that's it's a fair price. It's like a fair price to take a shot on Pickens, considering it's only one round different than the pick you gave up for Jonathan Mingo. I mean, it's a much better value than that one. John Yeah, no doubt, and I think that you're right.

00:04:34
Speaker 3: As soon as that trade was made for DK Metcalf, it was Pickens was done. It was just may basically a matter of whether it would happen before the season, during the season, or after the season that he would leave because there was no this was it one more year max for Pickens and Pittsburgh. So if you consider Pittsburgh a win now, this is a super contending team Pickens. Obviously, there's no doubt losing Pickens is a talent deficit from where they were a couple hours ago. That part is true. That part I could agree with from a raw talent perspective, But how the pieces all fit together and whether Pittsburgh was actually in that sort of contending window which I would say, and have said for quite a while that they are not. And the best thing we can do as an organization is recognized we actually aren't in that window, and even though we might get the last playoff spot, we actually aren't going to compete for anything, even to win that solitary playoff game.

00:05:22
Speaker 1: And so they're not thinking that though, John, you know, they're not thinking that.

00:05:27
Speaker 3: Now though maybe right like, could that be could this be a sign that maybe they're starting to think, Oh, look at next year's draft and what we could potentially do. Now they've got potentially twelve picks in that draft, so it's a possibility. Of course, they're going to gout and sign Aaron Rodgers, and everything I say is going to be completely rendered moot and irrelevant at that point because they will be leading back into the old way of doing things, and I'll be frustrated again. But I do think this is a move for the future, as well as considering we can't have two guys that are like this on our offense. Both guys. People will say their strengths are redundant. That is true, but I think that's more livable than their weakness is being redundant. You can't have two fumble too often. Yet if two guys are on drop passes and make mistakes as route runners in terms of the spacing and understanding the construction of where they're supposed to be on the field in relationship to each other. Two guys one guy like that you live for for the splash plays, the big plays down the field. You can live with it. Two guys like that, I just think is too much. I just think that is a really difficult space to live in as an offense, especially when you are hopefully at some point going to be playing a young quarterback, whether it's Will Howard, and you're going to need those pieces to be consistently where they're supposed to be. Two guys are just they're just that high variance and also will fight the opposing team's defensive backs and get in the lead the league and penalties. It's just too much to have in one room. It's too much to have on the field at the same time. And that was a big concern too.

00:06:50
Speaker 2: Yeah, that makes sense to me.

00:06:51
Speaker 1: To me, it says nothing about how they view themselves this year, next year, or anything. I just think they wanted out on George Pickens. They were just not in the George Pickens business, and they had an opportunity to get Dk Metcalf, who is obviously a better player than George Pickens, a more consistent, I believe leader, from everything that you hear, a more you can tell me, maybe a more willing blocker, just everything that Dk Metcalf brings you. They are betting huge on him as a core difference maker, and the second he was on their team, they just were out on George Pickens because of the off the field stuff, because maybe some inconsistencies as a player, and they just waited until the moment that they got the right price for him, and that ultimately, I think they believe in their system enough for what it's worth. I don't think they necessarily should that it's not going to hurt their winning or losing ledger to get rid of George Pickens for this year, and eventually they got what they felt like was a fair price.

00:07:51
Speaker 2: I'd ask you, as.

00:07:52
Speaker 1: Someone who is a closet Steelers fan, or maybe you're out of the closet, I don't really know, just out there, Yeah, okay, you're good, yes, and check out John by the way, subscribe him on Audible's and analytics and get his great Steelers writing, some Bucks writing, and then you get the great podcast he does with Oli Connelly. Where were you at with Pickens's development as a player and kind of who he was after three years, because he's one of those draft evaluations that I think almost no matter what you say, you can say you were right three years into his career because you've seen the ceiling plays. He obviously is better talent wise than where he got taken in the draft, but you've also seen the downside of what people were worried about coming into the league.

00:08:38
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean one of the key aspects of this is the fit in today's modern NFL with who George Pickens is a player, There are no questions he catches the ball at an extremely high level and he can make plays in the vertical portion of the field. But you and I know, Greg, the NFL offense asked wide receivers to do much more than this in today's league, especially more than ever before. If you don't know where all the pieces are moving with how can dense the league is, and how much they're bringing receivers in and reducing their split and saying you need to play close to the core of the formation, and if we're in a run, you need to contribute, and if we're in a pass, you need to know how the routes distribute, How do the routes distribute and break up from that point on the field. That's what teams need from their wide receier position, especially Arthur Smith like he needs this from wide receier position. If you remember back to before the Russell Wilson, before Russell Wilson became to start in Pittsburgh, van Jefferson out snapped, out, snapped, k outsnapped George Pickens in a couple of games. That wasn't because Van Jefferson's better than than George Pickens. That was because they just simply viewed Van Jefferson as a more ideal piece for the types of things they like to do in terms of bringing a receiver close to the liner scovers. Now the Arthur Smith conversation, we don't have time for Greg. You know, I am very anti. I am not suggesting in any way, shape or form. In fact, I railed against it at the time that that was a wise way to do things. It was not. But I'm saying that if this is the offensive coordinator you're committed to, and other offenses as well. You need players who are going to be able to play close to the core of the formation from reduce splits from condensed alignments, and be able to distribute their routes from there appropriately, as well as work the middle of the field. The struggle with Pickens is that the things he's really good at are really valuable, but they're only value. They're never valuable in a volume sense, like you are rarely going to be in a game script or a game situation in which he is getting a massive volume of plays. Now, could he be developed in something more? I'm open to that Steelers coaching, I have been offensive coaching especially I've been highly critical of for years, so I think it's possible. But also who he is as a player, just knowing kind of his demeanor, in his disposition and kind of where he wants to play, and you know, there's just not a lot of Christmas crispness and attention to detail in his game, And to me, that's where the whole he can help into something more. I hope, but I really would be surprised. I think he is generally who he is. You are going to see great things and flashes. You're going to be incredibly frustrated at times with who he is. I don't think he's this deva that he's painted out to be. But I do think there's a player who is in his usefulness to the league and in what he can do in a every role, every route. Basis is really limited in that way. Now his strengths in a better system, and I do think Ceedee Lamb is a great compliment to him. I think that part of it is probably the most exciting part for Dallas. He can be effective in that specific role for Dallas.

00:11:21
Speaker 2: I think, Yeah, that's the thing.

00:11:23
Speaker 1: Is the fit I think in Dallas is as perfect as it could be for George Pickens for this portion of his career. Still just twenty four years old, just turned twenty four in March, like has a lot of potential. Although I did want to just stop you and ask why don't you think he's the diva that he's painted out to be before we move to the Cowboys fit.

00:11:42
Speaker 3: I just think he's an interesting person. I don't think he's this He's not Deontay Johnson, where Deontay Johnson would like get off the field and rage in the locker room that he didn't get to Like, that's not the kind of player we're talking about here. I mean, this guy is just kind of oblivious more than anything, Like Pickens kind of lives in his own world. A defensive back slights him, he bodies like the guy in the play, Like that's He's just kind of like a short fuse, like narrow focused. Guy doesn't always sense the full moving picture. I think he leaves a game, leaves the field after a game, and in ten seconds is gone, like it's just flushed, whether it's good or bad. I just I mean, this guy didn't know that Joey Porter Junior made the first interception of his career in the game against Baltimore when he picks off Lamar Jackson at the ends of one of the biggest games of the year. They asked why the postgame presser. He had no idea. He's like Joey Porter gonna pick tonight. He just was the biggest play in the game. Like he didn't know that Mack Canada was fired until the next day when he came into the building, Like he didn't know that it happened on a Tuesday. He came in Wednesday morning. He was talking to music. I just found out when I came in. I'm like, so, that's the kind of guy we're talking about. I just think he's sort of it's George Pickens focus, but it's not in like an antagonistic way at all.

00:12:45
Speaker 1: And yet, yeah, when he is in the air and there's a defensive back in front of him and he's trying to pluck that ball out of the air like, he's kind of a genius. It's why I loved him so much coming out of Georgia. There was just enough of those plays. And maybe he hasn't developed enough as a route runner and a separator and all that, but there are enough of those plays that I saw that and I thought, that's got to work. Unless he's a total knucklehead, and I don't think like in terms of like loving to play the game. He exhibits a love of playing the game. When he's out there, he's competitive. I think that's got to work. And I think it's important to mention as we kind of transition to Dallas that it has worked.

00:13:25
Speaker 2: In three years. This is what he's done.

00:13:27
Speaker 1: He's caught one hundred and seventy four passes, for almost three thousand yards twenty eight hundred yards, so he's averaged almost one thousand yards a season. He led the NFL in yards per catch as in his second year as a twenty two year old eighteen point one yards per catch. He's averaged sixteen point three yards per catch for his career. I'm not saying that he's a number one that you build an offense around, but that's fantastic production just looking at it from a late second round pick. And now you go to Dallas where you're not the number one. And now we'll get into the fit a little bit with CD Lamb. You are with a quarterback Dak Prescott, who I feel like I haven't talked about at all this offseason, and I'm sort of fascinated what he's going to look like now in this Brian Schottenheimer offense, and you bring Clayton Adams over from Arizona, but it doesn't seem like they're really, you know, making an Arizona type of offense. But you're with a guy in Cede Lamb that's it's so talented, and you're going to be on the outside in theory in that Michael Gallup type of role. But a better version of it. And you're with a guy in Dak Prescott who throws a beautiful deep ball, it's probably a better fit. And the thing it reminded me of is the Cowboys have had some success with getting these receivers in for the honeymoon season, and hearing that George Pickens doesn't want to sign a contract right now because he wants to go off, you would think you're going to get the best version of George Pickens this year, like Roy Williams way back in the day or t O when they brought him back in back in the day. I do think you'll probably get the best vers version of Pickens. He's with a great quarterback and a great wide receiver. And that's why for the Cowboys a third round pick, even without the long term security, I think they're trying to win this year. I think it makes sense for them.

00:15:12
Speaker 3: If it's going to work for them, George Pickens needs to get back to being the best, like above the rim contested catch receiver in the NFL. That's really the path, because I would be just shocked if all the rough edges of his game ever round out. But they don't necessarily need that from him. You mentioned it right with Ceedee Lamb. He doesn't need to be the number one option. He doesn't need to be the guy you run your offense through. He needs to be the splash play creator. And the biggest way he can do that is when he gets five targets a game, because that might be what it is in this offense within his role. When he gets that sort of distribution in the passing game, can he make three of those awesome plays down the field? Can he be the guy who Avere who leads the league the average ards per catch, who is back up near his rookie year one of the best contested catch seasons I have ever seen, nineteen to twenty eight contested situations per PNFF sixty eight percent. Since then, it just hasn't been anywhere close. He's around. He's a little under thirty five percent over the last two years combined in those situations, still in just about as many situations per year, So that part hasn't changed. But some of that is ball placement, which will be better with Dak so I do think that part will matter. Watching him obviously every snap, I think some of it's on the quarterback. I think some of it is. Yeah, it's hard to live that way as a receiver in a high volume role, in contested spots, in this role, in this offense. I think it's going to change. So I'm with you. I think that his best ball could easily be played this year. I think the fit with Dak Prescott is good. The questions just like, how many mistakes will there be? Penalties fumbles are a big part of it. Drops how much mistakes will there be in terms of focus and execution. The lady kind of puts on your offense in terms of how you can use him. I think might be a factor, But overall, I do think it's exciting for Dallas. It's just a matter of this year, what's the ceiling for the whole team? And then you gave up this third? Can it be enough? Can you get him a longer term deal? Is that even an interest to you? Do you want to pay two wide receivers big? If not? Was this the right move? Those are kind of the more existential questions I think that's surround the team after this move.

00:17:10
Speaker 1: Dallas does not do well with the existential questions. They they they do a lot of work looking at their old draft profiles, and being like, oh, well we can fix them.

00:17:22
Speaker 2: We want that to work.

00:17:23
Speaker 1: I mean, they had a completely bizarre off season at running back and bringing Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders just like really that that's what you're going to do. But it was the trades that caught my eye was it was the Kenneth Murray trade and like Kyer Elam's on this roster, right, yeah, they traded for him too.

00:17:39
Speaker 2: It's just like, well, we.

00:17:41
Speaker 1: Trust our draft, you know, profile, and we're going to just give them a shot and see if that can work. The same thing they did with Mingo. But I think this is an upper tier version of that. And when I mentioned selfishly at the beginning, it makes me happier.

00:17:53
Speaker 2: It's just like I.

00:17:55
Speaker 1: Want to see Dak with a chance here. This is not necessarily a bad team. It's a it's a good a defensive roster, it's a good quarterback. The offensive line, if it broke right, has a chance to be pretty good or certainly like league average and improved. That I think they have a chance. This puts the Tyler Booker pick maybe into like a little bit of different light. Do you look at their draft any differently now? Because like that was the debate at twelve, you would have thought they would have taken Matthew Golden there maybe at BUKA, that's what I thought they were going to do. And they take Tyler Booker and they're going to be on TV John, whether you like it or not. And I just feel like they're going to be more entertaining and competitive, and that's all I really care about.

00:18:38
Speaker 2: I'm not a kid.

00:18:40
Speaker 3: I agree with that. I mean again, I think that you can quibble with the move, and you can certainly find flaws and say like, hey, this is a risk and we could look back and it could look bad, there's no doubt. But again, if you don't have any risk, like what are you doing? As there was no way Dallas was getting out of it this offseason. If they weren't gonna they were not going to improve unless they took on some level of risk. You have to take it on. So I was surprised by one thing, Greg. I think it's worth pointing out they I thought they really like negotiating wise, maybe they lost the plot a little bit, and that where they ended up giving up as interesting because before the draft they're offering a fourth it sounds like it was, and that was kind of what I heard at the time, was that Dallas and maybe some other teams were interested in Day three they would give up a Day three pick for pickings before during the draft, but there really wasn't a Day two pick on the table, and that's how Pittsburgh wanted, obviously, so Pittsburgh kind of waits it out. I'm not sure where they were at, whether they were somebody will eventually come around, or we'll just keep them, if you know, if we're not getting any good compensation for him. Obviously, I think they wanted to move them, but they just didn't want to surrender him for nothing. They end up getting the twenty twenty six third round pick from Dallas and a pretty a favorable Day three swap for them, which surprised me. I thought they would be the one.

00:19:46
Speaker 1: That's a part I agree they to be clear, they got a Day three swap where they moved the Steelers moved up from the sixth to the fifth. Not a huge deal, but I was surprised that they had to, you know, throw an extra to make it happen.

00:19:59
Speaker 3: Yeah, part was interesting to me, But either way, I think they get end up with the Day two pick in twenty twenty six. Now, I actually think for Dallas they probably they clearly preferred that to giving one up in twenty twenty five. For Pittsburgh, I actually liked the twenty twenty six one. I mean, knowing where Dallas is sort of in the order, maybe was favorable to them because Dallas was was picking higher than I mean, that's probably right around the range for them. Maybe they'll be a little they hope to be a little bit lower obviously this year. But I think for Pittsburgh that twenty twenty six drafts specifically of positions they might need to me. I just I wasn't as high on the wide receiver class this year as I know some people were. I think the cornerback class was one of the weakest in years in terms of where it dropped off after the top guys. So if you're looking at third round picks this year, the talent at those spots, and then especially in the offensive line, which is three position groups, I expect the Steelers will be really interested in outside of quarterback next year really not ideal for the Steelers this year, and then also quarterback right next year is probably a year that they want to be in position they maybe make a move. So to me, the pick in twenty twenty six is actually more valuable to the Steelers given their long term whether you want to say it's goals, I'm hoping it's goals. Whether it's goals or where they just will be inevitably, whether they like it or not, I think that twenty twenty six PI actually ends up making more sense for them, and maybe more sense for Dallas too. I am just surprised that Dallas was willing to give that up, because I don't think there was another team from what I've heard with was willing to give him that kind of conversation.

00:21:23
Speaker 1: Maybe by old Boss Florio helped push it along because he wrote an article on Tuesday round Monday rather saying Jerry Jones said during the draft, hey we've got these big trades coming. We're working on a big trade, wait and see it. And he writes this articles like, hey, where's that big trade you were talking about? And it was now in hindsight, probably always clearly this George Pickens. They were probably working on it. I have a feeling and felt good that at some point it was going to happen. But maybe maybe he pushed it over the goal line asking for it, like you'd be surprised how things happen in this league quickly on the Steelers, and then we'll get to just some other news. I'll say goodbye to you. DK metcalf is their number one, Like that is a huge upgrade. But man, the rest of their receiver group is roughs. Robert Woods people are expecting is like, like, I don't know if Robert Woods is going to make that team. He wasn't able to contribute to Houston last year. He's the contract doesn't indicate that he's necessarily even definitely on the team. We'll see obviously a great career, but he's at the.

00:22:18
Speaker 2: End of it.

00:22:18
Speaker 1: Calvin Austin, who has been an okay role player, I guess as like your four, Scottie Miller, Roman Wilson, their third round pick from a year ago, who they hope develops into a slot guy. Ben Scaronik. I mean, it's it's rough. There are some receivers out there. Amari Cooper is still out there, Keenan Allen is still out there there, Gabe Davis is now out there. There are guys I feel like they need to add one of those guys just just as like another professional to give a shot.

00:22:47
Speaker 3: Yeah, I remember we're talking about Arthur Smith again, and I want to be on the record. I am not recommending this for do not try this at home, kids, Do not try this offense at home. However, Greg, this is an offense that we know over the years with other Smith he said, give me one guy to run the off of the passing attack through, give me a playable option at tight end. They have those two things. The other receivers need to be able to just fill roles. That's what he wants. And so when you look at the group, yes, I agree with you, and a vacuum Robert Woods probably should be. Will he make it? Will he not? Going into the season. In reality, he's probably gonna make it. And he's probably gonna make Yeah, because he can play condensed, he's an adult in the room, and he can block. And those are three things that he wants. I mean, who is his number two? Mac Collins was the guy that he valued. Is his number two? Like, that's what he wants. He wants guys who can do that tough guy stuff over the middle of the field. Scourneck fits that mold. They're hoping that Roman Wilson fits that mold as well. That'll be a big question. He barely he was hurt. Like last year, he kept getting nicked up, so whether he can fill that role, I was lower on him the consensus. Again, for the record, I'm trying to explain the Steelers perspective. I don't think there's really a great other option in the room at all. Calvin Austin is a different type of player, like a vertical threat wide receiver from the slot who I think can replace some of the like pass obvious downs, field stretching ability. He's a guy that actually I thought was really similar to Jalen Nole. Since we've been talking drafts of labor, people liking guys that the vertical threat from the slot just running every route of full speed stretches the field for everybody else, So at least guys that can fit. Again, it's more of who can fill the role and function in the actual offensive system, even if they're not graded or I have no special traits at it, rather than who's the most talented guy, and fans sort of think of, oh pickings more talented one hundred percent? Can the other guys just literally run what Arthsman needs them to do better and more versatile than Pickens. Perhaps. However, I would say the ceiling on that offense of structure and idea is so incredibly low. Never tried at home, as I'm saying.

00:24:42
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I just mean there's some other guys who can play it, Like, yeah, let's get into the rest of it. Is Gabe Davis got cut by the Jaguars, which is quite a statement considering they owed him eleven million dollars guaranteed this year, a total disaster of a signing. But show did Buffalo. He could be a useful enough roleplay as a vertical threat. He should be on a team somewhere. And maybe that's the bet they're making, that there's offsets in his contract and they'll have to pay slightly less. But man, that was a bold statement. Like whether it's a Gabe Davis, I don't know if Keenan Allen makes sense. I don't know if Amari Cooper makes sense. I just mean you are you are a dk metcalf hamstring in jewry away from just I don't know how you're throwing a forward pass if you're the if you're the Steelers, any any thoughts on Gabe Davis now available.

00:25:28
Speaker 3: Yeah, he'd be interesting, I think. I mean, when he was in Buffalo, I feel just the verticality of who he is as a player feels like it would be valuable for an offense that needed that. Nowther Steelers have a couple of those types of pieces. The type of piece they really need is like what Robert Woods was in his prime or you know, I don't think they were going to take a Mechaguka, but like that type of player and so, but again, they probably weren't going to take him, even if the Bucks didn't, because they don't really value that role in this offense. That wide res your two roles. So it's just a value proposition, I think to them. And so I think from their perspective, like if this if they were going to be at their best or most effective as an offense. Just you're looking across the league. For get Arthur Smith, a player like that who could block, were condensed morek the middle of the field, make tough catches though, that would be the prototype of what they'd be looking for. So I think hoping that Robert Woods can provide that is probably you know, not ideal. Could Gabe Davis Phil a role could he be, you know, a piece on this team given where their cores at? For sure, that's possible. I think Keenan Allen's about cooked. I'm not sure i'd be that into.

00:26:30
Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree, I agree.

00:26:32
Speaker 1: I'm naming him because I'm regretting putting him in my top one oh one at the end.

00:26:36
Speaker 2: I think he was at eighty three.

00:26:38
Speaker 1: You know, he finished the season with sub productive and he's Keenan Allen. There's always some hope that he could bounce back, but it's thin out there. Those players are not easier to find. Knowing the Steelers lately, they're more likely to wait till cut down and then sign like Braxton Barrios from the Texans as their fourth receiver or something.

00:26:54
Speaker 3: Like that, because the names come up.

00:26:57
Speaker 1: Actually, yes, I'm glad you mentioned that Allen hard If Rogers is there, his Binkie could could come with him.

00:27:05
Speaker 2: It kind of makes sense.

00:27:06
Speaker 3: Joking.

00:27:07
Speaker 1: That's the thing is can can Rogers even I don't think he could take advantage of George Pickens at this point of his career. Just is unwilling to go deep down the field. Can't Can he get the best at a dk Metcalf h we'll see. I did want to mention Dallas Goddter reportedly is agreeing to a rework deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles had made it pretty clear all off season that he was potentially available for a trade. Definitely, we're kind of putting the screws to him. I believe to take some sort of pay cut. We don't have the details on that yet, but I would expect that he took some sort of pay cut to stay, so that that's a win for the Eagles.

00:27:41
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it always made more sense for him to stay, in my opinion, Like I just felt like he's a pivotal piece when he's healthy for them, I think because they ask him to do stuff not every title in the league can do, and they've really developed him they I mean, they've kind of made the monster. And when Tucker Craft came out, I was like this, I hope he can be Dallas Goddter, and I think he's on that path to be that type of player. But I think just what Goddard does as a blocker in the move, how he can play from different lignements, the fact that he can catch screen, you can line up as a wide out and little gitially run those routes, catch screens and be a threat, and he just he's not dominant maybe at any one thing. Maybe I mean at times as a blocker. When he's been healthy, there's been some really nice stretches for him, but he's really good at a lot of different stuff, and they really need a piece like that with where they're at and their window. It just it sort of made sense that they found a way to stay together, and I'm glad that they did.

00:28:31
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm always a little dubious of on off splits or the equivalents in football, but man, when when he wasn't on the field, you felt that difference because it was such a big falloff from their two great outside receivers to not really having anyone reliable insights. So I'm glad they worked that out. But I think it was just they felt they felt like they couldn't rely on him to stay on the field enough. But they got through the draft, they didn't end up with a high pick tight end, and they're they're all going to be back there on offense twenty twenty five, which helps Jalen hurts out a lot, and then before we go. I just wanted to kind of close the circle. On Monday's show, we actually talked at length about the Justin Tucker situation and the wording that John Harbaugh had about how interesting it was.

00:29:16
Speaker 2: He said, football decisions.

00:29:17
Speaker 1: If we cut Justin Tucker, it will be a football decision, And in fact, since we talked about it, they did cut him, And that was the most notable thing about it for me. The quote from Eric DeCosta when they released him. He said, sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult. This is one of those instances. And then the tone of it very complimentary of Justin Tucker and how tough it was to release him, and they sincerely wish him in his family the very best in this next chapter of their lives. And I just wanted to say, well, I found the tone of it off putting, with the sixteen sexual assault allegations that went into it, and them leading with football decisions so clearly in their statement. I also just I think it was a legal thing that they do not want Justin Tucker or the NFLPA to come after them, and frankly, I would have expected them to bring in another kicker and potentially cut Tucker or make them compete for his job this year anyways. And I don't necessarily believe that the off field stuff didn't have a factor, but that's just what they put because they are covering their own ass. We have seen that a lot in the NFL. You have covered us gloriously. John Ledyard. I'm going to get you off to your day because I know you're busy, but I appreciate you stepping in at the last second and talking a little. George Pickens to the Cowboys. The Cowboys are going to be more interesting. I don't know if that'll be true with the Steelers, if it's like Mason Rudolph throwing to Roman Wilson.

00:30:42
Speaker 3: And We for seven. Maybe not in Toy twenty no.

00:30:47
Speaker 1: But I do expect Rodgers has got to be there eventually. Sorry about that, John, wrap it up. We will be back for our final show of the week. It's actually going to go up Friday morning. That's going to be with Nick Chuck. Very excited about that one.

00:31:01
Speaker 2: Until then.

00:31:02
Speaker 1: Yes, the Dallas Cowboys actually given us some news to talk about in the middle of May.

00:31:06
Speaker 2: Thank you, Jerry Jones. Football's back