Whenever the Cowboys decide to get rid of Amari Cooper — which ought to be by late March — they have a backup plan to replace him.
The Cowboys aren’t about to pay Cooper $20 million next season, — and then $40 million combined the two years after that — to play mediocre football. The Alabama product’s production has gone down the last few years, and this season he was oft-injured and failed to produce 1,000 yards through the air.
That doesn’t scream No. 1 target for Dak Prescott, or $20 million per year wideout.
So, even though Jerry Jones doesn’t want to say the tough part out loud, you can expect Dallas to cut or trade Cooper before the new league year starts, or shortly thereafter. They DO NOT want to be on the books for that $20 million.
Dallas Cowboys have Amari Cooper backup plan
With Cooper leaving, the Cowboys need a backup plan in place to replace him. Sure, this doesn’t mean they need a new No. 1 wideout, as CeeDee Lamb can hopefully pick up that level of production, but their depth will be tested.
So, where should they turn? How about in-house?
Michael Gallup is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and while it was initially thought he’d be the odd man out in Dallas, suddenly there’s an opening. Per Adam Schefter, the Cowboys are already working towards a new contract for Gallup, who can hopefully fill some of Cooper’s shoes.
With the two sides reportedly close on a deal, and the Cowboys about to free up a bunch of money in cap room thanks to pending decisions on Cooper and DeMarcus Lawrence, meeting in the middle with Gallup won’t be tough after all.