Why Dallas Cowboys could part ways with Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper has been the go-to guy more often than not for Dak Prescott since joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2018. Dallas made an aggressive move prior to the 2018 trade deadline, sending a 2019 first-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for the Pro Bowl pass catcher. Cooper immediately helped Dak Prescott develop his […]
Amari Cooper has been the go-to guy more often than not for Dak Prescott since joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2018. Dallas made an aggressive move prior to the 2018 trade deadline, sending a 2019 first-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for the Pro Bowl pass catcher.
Cooper immediately helped Dak Prescott develop his game and take the offense to the next level. The two have had great chemistry from the jump, which has played a big role in the Cowboys becoming the top passing offense in football.
Dallas signed Cooper to a five-year contract worth $100 million in the 2020 offseason, the biggest contract that a receiver had signed in league history. Washington and other franchises inquired about signing Cooper, but the Cowboys kept him in the building when push came to shove.
The contract, however, gave the Cowboys an out after the 2021 season. That makes this offseason even more interesting.
HOW COWBOYS CAN SAVE MONEY
It is very unlikely that Amari Cooper has already played his last game with the Dallas Cowboys; however, Dallas can save a good amount of money by parting ways with the standout receiver.
The Cowboys can save up to $20 million in cap space if the team opts to designate Cooper as a post-June 1 release. Dallas is already up against the cap, so it makes some sense on paper. That said, it is not very logical for the Cowboys to part ways with a player of Cooper's caliber — especially without getting anything in return.
Dallas does have a laundry list of players hitting the open market this offseason. That includes tight end Dalton Schultz, wide receiver Michael Gallup, and defensive end Randy Gregory, among others.
Therefore, it seems plausible that the Cowboys could make a move. If desperate enough to get under the cap and retain some other key free agents, this would be an easy solution. Again, however, that is much more of a move that is easier done on paper than in reality.
The Dallas Cowboys would be foolish to cut Amari Cooper. The duo of Cooper and CeeDee Lamb is among the best in football. You don't mess that up and weaken the offense in order to save some dollars.
Such a move is worth monitoring, but it would come as a surprise.
Featured image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
