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McInnes, McGlynn and Naysmith nominated for SPFL manager of year
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Cowboys Headlines: That was the bored version of Downs? Pickens tag news
TL;DR
Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs is eager to start his NFL career after feeling bored in college football. Meanwhile, George Pickens faces uncertainty as he has yet to sign his franchise tag worth $27 million.
Key points
- Caleb Downs is excited to start with the Cowboys after Ohio State.
- Downs found college football boring due to lack of action.
- George Pickens has not signed his franchise tag yet.
- Former player Jason McCourty advises Pickens to seek a trade.
- Cowboys may draft Charlie Becker in 2027 to replace Pickens.
Mentioned in this story
ESPN
Dallas CowboysCaleb DownsGeorge PickensJason McCourty
Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs is ready to hit the ground running in Dallas after his time at Ohio State. The first-round pick is looking forward to a new challenge after being bored, his words, playing college football due to the ball rarely coming his way, this via an interview on 105.3 The Fan. Downs won't have to worry about that at the NFL level; opposing quarterbacks love to test rookies early on to see if they'll make common rookie mistakes.
In other news, the situation involving the Cowboys and George Pickens continues to draw more former players into the conversation. This time, it's ESPN's Jason McCourty who believes Pickens' signing his franchise tag should be the last resort for the receiver. McCourty's stance comes down to money, and Pickens should have his agent find a trade that will get him paid now instead of playing on the $27 million franchise tag Dallas gave him. Pickens has yet to sign the tag or show up to the Cowboys' team workouts.
SI.com put out its way-too-early 2027 NFL draft. In their mock, they have Dallas using the 26th pick to take Indiana Hoosiers' receiver, Charlie Becker. The Becker pick in their eyes was made to replace George Pickens, based on their similar skill set and need at receiver. As for the Cowboys' original pick, that was traded to the Jets in the Quinnen Williams deal; had the Jets picked 16th in the first round. Not a very glowing endorsement for the 2026 season.
Q&A
What did Caleb Downs say about his college football experience?
Caleb Downs described his college football experience as boring because the ball rarely came his way.
What is the current situation with George Pickens and his franchise tag?
George Pickens has not signed his $27 million franchise tag and is advised to seek a trade for better pay.
Who is projected to be drafted by the Cowboys in the 2027 NFL draft?
The Cowboys are projected to draft Indiana receiver Charlie Becker with the 26th pick to potentially replace George Pickens.