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Seth Wenig / Associated Press
The Dallas Cowboys are pitted against Amari Cooper, with the broad host likely to leave town. Many franchisees have to fight for a new goal № 1.
Reaching Cooper’s $ 22 million salary cap, including a fully guaranteed $ 20 million kicker, is problematic for the 2022 campaign. The Cowboys are $ 21.2 million above the projected wage ceiling, according to Spotrac. Moving from the four-time goal of the Pro Bowl, the Cowboys can save $ 16 million in one fell swoop.
ESPN Adam Shefter announced that the Cowboys “probably” will release Cooper by the beginning of the new year of the league (March 16). CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson he added that it was an “opportunity” with “many moving parts”. The NFL Network Ian Rapoport he said he believed Cooper was “done” with the Cowboys and that they could try to trade him before they just let him go.
The reports differ slightly, but the message remains the same: Cooper and the Cowboys may be heading for divorce.
Of course, the public nature of the potential contractual quarrel signals a Cowboys’ leverage in an attempt to restructure Cooper’s current deal and provide some relief for the wage ceiling. However, the broad receiver and its representation could remain stable, as they do not need to agree to a potentially stable market that awaits if the Cowboys pull the trigger.
Five organizations with wage ceiling space and different levels of need for a wide receiver immediately come to the fore.
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Ron Schwein / Associated Press
Like Cooper and the Cowboys, Jarvis Landry and the Cleveland Browns seem inevitably separated.
Landry told about his current situation on social media revealing that he played with significant injuries last season and that he would like to stay in Cleveland, although his status depends entirely on the team.
As tough as Landry is, the Browns have reached a point of declining return with him. The broad successor turns 30 years later this year, and his salary ceiling exceeds $ 16 million. The organization could recoup $ 14.9 million with his release.
Even if both sides agree to a restructured contract for Landry to remain on the team, the broad successor is clearly the biggest need on the Browns list. Donovan Peoples-Jones led the team last season with 597 assists. Cleveland lacks explosiveness, reliability and consistency of position.
As the organization plans to move forward with Baker Mayfield as the starting quarterback this fall, general manager Andrew Berry’s main goal in the off-season is to add tracks around the position to maximize the number one potential for 2018 as a whole.
Cooper would immediately add different dynamics as the main threat, although he also struggled with several serious injuries last season.
Cleveland should be expected to make a sensation with some sort of acquisition of a wide successor, either through free mediation or through a project. Cooper’s signing would be eligible.
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Bill Costroun / Associated Press
The bonds that connect can be very strong. The Miami Dolphins are not jumping off the page as a potential landing place for Cooper because they have just invested in the top 10 selections in Jaylan Waddle and also have DeVante Parker on the list.
However, the history of Parker’s injuries is disturbing, as he has played in an entire season only once in his seven-year career. Over the past year, Parker has dealt with a problematic hamstring and missed seven races.
Parker still finished third in the team with 515 yards to receive (behind Waddle and Tight and Mike Gesiki), and no other successor had 225 yards to receive.
Interestingly, Cooper can join fellow Alabama alumni at Waddle and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The veteran broadband receiver has not played with any during his career at Crimson Tide, but he certainly knows both through the program.
Finally, Cooper was born in Miami. The attraction of coming home to play with dolphins that are full of potential must be attractive. In addition, the Dolphins have the area with the largest salary limit in the league at $ 61.2 million.
The perfect fusion of factors could clash in Miami’s favor to court the main threat in Mike McDaniel’s new offensive scheme.
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Stephen B. Morton / Associated Press
The worst NFL team will not be a popular destination for many of the best free agents available. But the wide receiver needs to consider its capabilities. In Cooper’s case, the Jaguars provide an opportunity to maximize his potential both on and off the field.
Each player in a skill position must assess the situation of the team’s defender to see if the talent behind the center can take full advantage of his abilities. And Trevor Lawrence is a legitimate point of sale. Lawrence may not have seemed the number one general choice to score during his new campaign, but these problems were much deeper than the usual battles of the first year.
Lawrence still has the potential to become one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, especially with a friendly head coach at Doug Pederson. The second-year call should bloom when placed in a position to succeed.
The Jaguars lack a real number one option in the passing game, so Cooper would immediately claim a significant target share. At the age of 32 later this month, Marvin Jones Jr. will be much better served as a secondary threat.
From a financial standpoint, the Jaguars have some of the most financial flexibility in the league as a young team in transition. The franchise holds the third-largest pay ceiling at $ 56.1 million.
Cooper can win money, play with one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the game and even return to his home state.
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Sportswire / Getty Images icon
The Chicago Bear argument is almost identical to that of the Jaguars, except that the Bears are not in sunny (and revenue-free) Florida.
The Bears have more than enough space for a $ 25.7 million salary ceiling to continue with Cooper on the open market. They can do so with the excitement of selling Justin Fields’ future with the franchise. Fields is another young quarterback whose rookie season did not go exactly as planned due to a bad situation. But the talent remains obvious.
The right offensive personnel infrastructure is what the team lacks.
Darnell Mooney is an excellent young broad receiver. In his second year, he led the bears last season with 81 innings of 1,055 yards. His production is a combination of a rising player and circumstances. No other Bears wide receiver has managed more than 410 yards for reception.
While Alan Robinson II is a more capable target when he is healthy, he is also a waiting free agent and the broad receiver is “eager” to test the market, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
The Duo of Cooper and Mooney, along with an improved offensive front to keep Fields up and running, would make the Bears a dangerous NFC team. Given that Luke Getty, who has served as Green Bay Packers’ pass coordinator for the past two seasons, is Chicago’s new offensive player, Cooper may enter the situation, knowing the offensive scheme will be set up to highlight his best successor after Davante Adams averaged 159 goals in the last two seasons.
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Lon Horwedel / Associated Press
The Detroit Lions will be associated with every wide receiver available because they pitted the worst target group in the league last season.
In his honor, Amon-Ra St. Brown exceeded expectations as a rookie with a leading team in 90 receptions at 912 yards. But St. Brown was chosen in the fourth round for a reason and the Lions need much more juice among their receiving threats.
St. Brown should be Detroit’s long-term slot option. He will be the blanket of security for anyone who becomes his quarterback franchise. But the Lions need to find receivers that can create inconsistencies and force the cover to move, thus creating more opportunities for everyone else.
The most dynamic threat to accepting lions is TJ Hockenson. It is also a quality option. But the tight end is not at the level of Travis Kelche or George Keatle. So the lions’ demand for help from a wide receiver to uncover the whole crime must be huge.
Detroit sells hard for a Cooper-caliber player. At the same time, the Lions exceeded expectations last season. Yes, they finished 3-13-1. However, they played hard every week and it is obvious that they are well trained.
Someone like Cooper, who risks the franchise and its staff, would go a long way in raising the organization’s status. The Lions must play for Cooper’s services if / when he becomes available.