Dallas Cowboys are “likely” to release broad-based successor Amari Cooper by the start of the league’s new year, ESPN sources told Adam Shefter on Friday.
Cooper owes $ 20 million in fully guaranteed money on the fifth day of the league’s new year, March 20. The Cowboys have developed Cooper’s $ 100 million contract in a way that could get them out of a relatively meager deal in two seasons. If Cooper is laid off, he will count $ 6 million against the salary cap, not $ 22 million.
For a team expected to exceed $ 21 million, every dollar counts – especially with so many unsigned key free agents like quarterback Randy Gregory, undercover Dalton Schultz, midfielder Leighton Vander Ash and security Jaron Kears.
If the Cowboys cut Cooper, they could face a big loss of successor in 2022. CeeDee Lamb is ready, but Michael Gallup (who broke the ACL late last season) and Cedric Wilson are ready to be free agents.
Cooper finished with 865 yards in 68 assists with eight touchdowns in his 15 games. He had two 100-yard games in the first seven weeks and none in his last eight. There were three games with two receptions and one with three. Cooper missed two games last season after testing positive for COVID-19.
This report uses information from Todd Archer of ESPN.