There wasn’t much the Cowboys could do with Amari Cooper. They sent a first-round pick to the Raiders to acquire him midway through the 2018 season. If they let him walk as a free agent, that trade would look really bad.
They also just slapped the franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott instead of signing him long term and slapping it on Cooper. They backed themselves into a corner. They knew they’d have to pay. And pay they did.
The 25-year-old receiver will be re-upping with the Cowboys on a 5-year deal amounting to a total of $100 million according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Amari Cooper intends to re-sign with the Dallas Cowboys on a 5-year, $100 million deal, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2020
The deal includes a reported $60 million in guaranteed money according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
His $20 million per season average comes in second in the NFL below only Julio Jones’s $22 million per season. So, I guess it could have been worse. Coop could’ve held out to be the highest-paid. And as free agency often goes, he may have gotten it from someone.
Cooper has revived his career in Dallas. When he was traded midway through the 2018 season, he was having his worst season as a pro. He had just 280 yards and one touchdown in six games. He exploded after the trade, putting up 725 yards and six touchdowns in nine games to help the Cowboys reach the playoffs. He also headed to the Pro Bowl.
Cooper started all 16 games last season and had his best season as a pro with 1189 yards and 8 touchdowns to again be named to the Pro Bowl. He has professed his love for playing in Dallas and that’s where he will stay.
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