The Dallas Cowboys seem eager to part ways with wide receiver Amari Cooper.
Cooper has been an excellent performer and had great chemistry with Dak Prescott from the beginning.
He is only 27 years old and his stats over the past four seasons with the Cowboys are great.
Cooper played in 56 games, scored 27 touchdowns, netted 3,893 receiving yards, and caught 292 passes.
It is still hard to fathom that money is the sole reason the Cowboys are reportedly ready to trade Cooper.
Three player updates from #Cowboys source with #NFL FA approaching: “Demarcus Lawrence isn’t going anywhere.” Team still working on Amari Cooper options while hoping a new contract for Michael Gallup is soon finished.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) March 11, 2022
The Cowboys do have salary cap issues so trading Cooper does help them try to sign other free agents they need to compete in 2022.
How can they make this right?
Well, it depends on the definition of right.
Here are a couple of options.
1. Restructure His Deal
No matter what happens, it seems like restructuring his deal is a no-brainer.
Maybe they can figure out a way to keep him on the team.
If not, other teams may be more amenable to a potential trade with a restructured deal.
#Cowboys are open the trading WR Amari Cooper. Interested teams are looking for a restructure of his contract before $20M of his 2022 salary is guaranteed (@nflnetwork first)
— Bobby Thompson (@BThomps81) March 9, 2022
Amari Cooper’s contract is better than what teams are going to be able to sign for one of the top WRs on the market. He’s also younger & better than those guys. The structure is such that you can restructure pretty easily & get a solid 2 years out of him. https://t.co/5KGI1wN6jb
— Brandon Kiley (@BKSportsTalk) March 11, 2022
HAS ANYONE ASKED AMARI COOPER TO RESTRUCTURE HIS CONTRACT.
HAS (THE GENERAL MANAGER) ASKED AMARI COOPER TO RESTRUCTURE HIS CONTRACT.
HAS (JERRY JONES) ASKED AMARI COOPER TO RESTRUCTURE HIS CONTRACT. https://t.co/WAWeWsO5YN
— Eddie Brite (@EddieBrite1) March 8, 2022
It is not clear if Cooper was asked to restructure his contract.
Because Cooper has openly said he loves playing in Dallas, it seems as though he would be amenable to restructuring his deal.
He said:
“I love being a Dallas Cowboy. I love everything about it. I think about it almost every day…Just the aura of being a Dallas Cowboy, you can’t beat it. I want to be a Dallas Cowboy for life.”
Amari Cooper: “I love being a Dallas Cowboy. I love everything about it. I think about it almost every day. … Just the aura of being a Dallas Cowboy, you can’t beat it. I want to be a Dallas Cowboy for life.”
— Cowboys 🏈//Warriors 🏀 (@D4KSB) March 4, 2022
2. Trade Him To A Contender
If there is no way to retain Cooper, then hopefully the Cowboys owe him the respect of trading him to a contender.
He was a great player for the franchise so at least give him that on his way out.
There are reportedly many teams interested in Cooper.
According to Jordan Schultz, the Cowboys are asking for either a third or fourth-round draft pick.
#Cowboys have informed teams involved in trade talks for WR Amari Cooper they are looking for a 3rd round picks, but will take a 4th (@Schultz_Report first)
— Bobby Thompson (@BThomps81) March 11, 2022
The Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots have emerged as the frontrunners to trade for Cooper.
The three top teams interested in #Cowboys Amari Cooper are the #Browns #Dolphins and #Patriots #NFLRumors
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) March 11, 2022
Given the need for a WR1 on each of these rosters, this is not surprising news.
Conclusion
For some reason, the Cowboys seem more focused on signing Michael Gallup who is coming off of an ACL injury.
This is perplexing, and no one understands what is happening.
It doesn’t make sense to pay Michael Gallup or Dalton Schultz if you are cutting Amari Cooper.
You are spending a ton of money to get worse.
Might as well let everyone walk and start worrying about 2023 and beyond.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) March 4, 2022
It almost feels like desperation with so many free agents and so little money to go around because of the big contracts in previous years to Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, and Jaylon Smith.
Somehow the Cowboys have to keep the main players together, including Cooper, for 2022.
Every team has a sense of urgency to win, but this is more pronounced for the Cowboys given the players’ ages and contracts.
Factor in the coaching staff that is staying together for this season, it is now or never.
The Cowboys, if they are not successful in 2022, could end up being the Seattle Seahawks in the 2023 offseason with the massive dismantling of players and starting from scratch.
