The Dallas Cowboys are currently in terribleposition cap-wise, so there won't be any surprises if cuts are made this offseason.

But there could still be a few cuts that are surprising when it comes to the name written on the pink slip.

Who are they? Let's take a look at three candidates.

WR Amari Cooper

There's already speculation that Cooper could be a cap casualty, but it's still surprising considering the fact that there is an easy option that avoids a release.

The easy answer here is a restructure. Cooper still has three years left on his deal, including 2022. Therefore, the Cowboys could easily spread his $20 million base salary over the next three years and even add a dummy fourth year to the deal to help even more. Adding a fourth year would drop his cap hit to $5 million in 2022 and he'd still get paid the full $20 mil.

So, maybe holding on to Cooper isn't a bad idea, at all. However, if you listen to Jerry Jones, then it's easy to think that he doesn't feel that way. Sure, Cooper had a down year in 2021, but it was still an 60+ reception, 800+ receiving yard, and eight touchdown season. That's nothing to be ashamed of.

Regardless, Cooper won't be on the market long if Dallas does let him go. Which is another reason why it would be surprising to see him go.

TE Blake Jarwin

A Jarwin release is considered surprising since Dalton Schultz is up for a new deal. The Cowboys won't have much beyond Jarwin at the position and Dak Prescott needs weapons.

However, releasing Jarwin saves a little over $3.8 million and that money could be used to re-sign Schultz, so there is a logical reason to make this happen. Jarwin still has two years left on the four-year deal he signed back in 2020. He was considered to be Jason Witten's replacement before injuries limited him to nine games over the last two seasons.

He's also only 27-years-old, so there are plenty of years left in the tank. But, money is money at the end of the day in the NFL and Jarwin could find himself holding the short end of the stick.

RT La'el Collins

This may not be too much of a surprise considering the last two years of Collins' career, but when you look at the minimal cap savings attached to the deal, then it's easy to see what I mean.

Dallas stands to create a measly $1.3 million in cap room if it cuts Collins. And no matter what, the Cowboys are going to have to sign at least one offensive lineman at a minimum of $705,000 to replace him. So, you're only saving around $600k by letting him go.

Collins has shown he can play in this league. The Cowboys are still in win-now mode regardless of the cap situation and many analysts (and Vegas) see them as contenders, right now. Give the guy one more year and then save a more tangible $6.5 million by releasing him next year if he doesn't play well.