The Dallas Cowboys are going to be making some tough decisions with their roster this offseason when it comes to getting under the salary cap. They are currently projected to be more than $21 million over, which will make it difficult to retain some of their free agents. Now, it appears that they could move on from Amari Cooper.
Michael Gallup, Randy Gregory, Leighton Vander Esch, Dalton Schultz, Jayron Kearse and Cedrick Wilson are just a few players who will be testing free agency this offseason. If Dallas wants any chance of retaining some of them, they need to start shifting some salary around.
One player who sounds like he will be moved as a cap casualty is Amari Cooper. Cooper has a $22 million cap hit in which the Cowboys can save $16 million from if they release him before March 20th. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, it is likely that the Cowboys do release him before then.
Cooper is being paid to produce like the best wide receivers in the game, but he hasn’t been putting up those kinds of numbers. Some of it can be attributed to the talent around him, as CeeDee Lamb, Gallup, Schultz and Wilson all got their opportunities. It could also be an indictment on the play calling and quarterback play.
Whatever may have led to the lack of production, one thing is clear; Cooper isn’t living up to the contract and the Cowboys are seemingly ready to move on. If Cooper is released, there will be plenty of teams lining up to acquire him.
Here are three potential destinations should Cooper hit free agency in the coming days or weeks.
3. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have to get some weapons around quarterback Justin Fields this offseason. The only reliable receiver he has on the roster currently is Darnell Mooney and it would make sense to bring in a veteran, especially with Allen Robinson hitting free agency and being unlikely to re-sign.
Amari Cooper would be an excellent complement to Mooney on the opposite side of the field with Cole Kmet working the middle from the tight end position. Cooper is a bonafide No. 1 wide receiver, surpassing the 1,000-yard plateau in five out of his seven seasons in the NFL and having at least five receiving touchdowns in all seven.
The more weapons that the Bears add this offseason, the easier it will be for Fields to develop in his second season in the NFL.
2. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders have the luxury of having a true No. 1 option on the roster already in Terry McLaurin. He has made the most of his opportunities despite not always having the best quarterback play getting the ball to him.
Washington should be in the market for a player to help bolster the receiving core behind him. The organization was hopeful that Curtis Samuel could fill that role, but he was injured for a vast majority of the 2021 season and didn’t have the impact they had hoped for.
Amari Cooper would certainly bring that impact. Having another go-to receiver in the mix would elevate the offense to another level, especially if they can upgrade at quarterback as well. Also, as an NFC East rival to the Cowboys, landing Cooper would make it that much sweeter for the Commanders.
1. Cleveland Browns
There arguably isn’t a team in the NFL that needs a wide receiver as badly as the Cleveland Browns do. If they release Jarvis Landry to help improve their salary cap situation, they could end up being in the market for two or three receivers this offseason.
Following the disastrous trade for Odell Beckham Jr., the team was going to be in the market for wide receiver help this offseason regardless. The players at the top of the market were going to be on their radar, and now Cooper could become their top choice.
He would be a good fit for the Browns offense as the go-to receiver for Baker Mayfield or whoever is under center. Cooper will likely be a little cheaper than the other top options on the market, allowing Cleveland to spend some money elsewhere on the roster to upgrade the talent on the team.
