Report: Dallas Cowboys heading toward surprising decision on Amari Cooper

A big domino appears to have fallen ahead of the start of the NFL’s new league year. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dallas Cowboys are likely to release wide receiver Amari Cooper.

“Cowboys are “likely” to release WR Amari Copper by the start of the new league year, per league sources,” Schefter tweeted on Friday morning. “Cooper is due $20 million in fully guaranteed money on the fifth day of the new league year, March 20.”

Cooper played in 15 games this past season, bringing in 68 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. In 56 games with the Cowboys, Cooper has hauled in 292 receptions for 3,893 yards and 27 touchdowns. Star wideout CeeDee Lamb led the Cowboys in receiving with 79 receptions for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns this past season. Tight end Dalton Schultz also had 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns.

Elsewhere at wide receiver, the Cowboys have Cedrick Wilson and Michael Gallup, among others. Wilson had 45 receptions for 602 yards and six touchdowns in 2021, while Gallup dealt with injuries, bringing in 35 receptions for 445 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.

The Cowboys are projected to have one of the worst salary cap situations in the NFL this offseason. Cutting Cooper is the first of what will likely turn into many steps for the Cowboys in an attempt to save some money in an attempt to be in a position to maneuver through this offseason.

Cooper will be heading to his third NFL team following his Cowboys release

Cooper first entered the league in 2015 when he was drafted fourth overall by the then Oakland Raiders. The former Alabama star immediately turned into one of the NFL’s best receivers, totaling at least 1,000 yards receiving in three of his first four NFL seasons.

In October during the 2018 season, the Raiders traded Cooper to the Cowboys for a 2019 first round pick. After exploring the free agent market, Cooper signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with the Cowboys in March of 2020.

The Cowboys have a number of key players due to hit free agency. On offense, Dalton Schultz is set to hit the open market, and he is due a big raise. Michael Gallup is also set to hit free agency, as is Cedrick Wilson. On defense, many players are set to hit the market. Those players include safeties Keanu Neal, Jayron Kearse, Malik hooker, and Damontae Kazee, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, and outside linebacker Randy Gregory, among many others.

Cooper was seen as a possible cap casualty in Dallas, and now that appears to be becoming a reality. There will undoubtedly be other moves to come from the Cowboys, but releasing Cooper will be a big move and one that can completely change the Cowboys plans for the rest of the offseason.