According to Adam Schefter, the Dallas Cowboys are likely to release wide receiver Amari Cooper before the start of the new league year. The Cowboys currently sit $21M over the salary cap with several players set to hit free agency including Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson, Randy Gregory, Leighton Vander Esch, and Dalton Schultz.
With so many high profile players in need of a new contract, Cooper could become a salary cap casualty in the coming weeks. The former Alabama wideout is due $20M in guaranteed money on March 20th.
However, the way his contract is structured, the Cowboys could cut him and only incur a $6M dead cap hit as opposed to his full contract which would account for $22M in 2022. In 15 games last year Cooper posted 68 catches for 865yds and 8TDs.
While the TD mark tied his career high, the yards and receptions both marked the 2nd lowest totals of his 7 year NFL career. Cooper was a National Champion with Alabama in 2012 and took home the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wideout in 2014.
Should the Cowboys release the soon to be 28 year old, he would garner a tremendous amount of interest on the open market. With a free agent wide receiver class that features the likes of Chris Godwin and Davante Adams, Cooper would be widely considered one of the top 3 pass catchers available this offseason.
For his career, Cooper has totalled 517 receptions for 7,076 yards and 46 touchdowns to go along with 4 Pro Bowl selections since joining the league. Expect WR needy teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears to do their due diligence on the former 4th overall draft pick.
If Cooper hits the open market it creates an interesting scenario for teams who had previously been linked to Calvin Ridley trade rumours as well, as they now have a viable alternative should discussions with the Falcons stall.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner