EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 04: Amari Cooper #19 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of their game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 04, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Amari Cooper has been consistent in saying he wants to stay, and the Dallas Cowboys are moving to get him signed to a new deal.
In virtual parallel with any talks with quarterback Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys surely want to secure the services of wide receiver Amari Cooper. ESPN’s Ed Werder has reported the team is working hard to reach an agreement with Cooper, with Cooper and his agent also apparently motivated to get something done.
Cooper was acquired from the Oakland Raiders during the 2018 season, and he made an immediate impact as Prescott instantly got better with a legit No. 1 wide receiver to throw to. Giving up a first-round pick to then only get 25 games out of Cooper would not be a great look for Dallas.
Cooper has been consistent in professing his desire to stay, and just last week during a radio interview he said he wanted to be a “Cowboy for life.” But Cooper will surely not allow himself to be low-balled by Jerry Jones, and he should have a sense of what’s out there on the open market.
A looming CBA vote, and the resulting bumping back of the franchise tag deadline to next Monday now, should help the Cowboys in talks with both Prescott and Cooper. Even with a newly ratified CBA, the exclusive franchise tag will be an option to use on one or the other. But some extra days will be helpful in any effort to lock up both long-term, and for what it’s worth talks with Cooper seem to be far less contentious.
The idea Cooper will be signed to a deal before Prescott is not at all far-fetched right now. That said, Prescott should absolutely be trying to get every penny he can from the Cowboys.
With $76.5 million in cap space, the Cowboys won’t be outbid for Cooper unless they want to be. But what seems to be a motivated negotiation should reach an amicable conclusion, with Cooper continuing to have a star on his helmet for years to come.