Amari Cooper has been a very productive NFL wide receiver since his rookie year, eclipsing 1,000 yards in five of his six seasons. He hasn’t quite put it all together to the point where he can rightfully lay claim to the “best wide receiver in the NFL” crown, though.
Last year, with Dak Prescott out for most of the season, Cooper posted a solid 92 catch, 1,114 yard, five touchdown seasons. A year before, his first full year with the Dallas Cowboys after being traded from the Oakland Raiders at mid-season in 2018, he had his best NFL season, with career highs in yardage (1,189), yards per reception (15.1), and touchdowns (eight).
Dak is back under center, and the Cowboys have big expectations in 2021. The team will open the NFL season on Thursday night, with a game at the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cooper expects more from himself as well. Speaking to the media today, he admitted that he believes that he’s the best wide receiver in the NFL, but his production hasn’t measured up.
Cowboys WR Amari Cooper: “I think I’m the best receiver in the league. But it’s a difference between thinking think that you’re the best and actually going out there and proving it. Do I think I’m the best? Yes. Have I proven it? I wouldn’t say I have.” pic.twitter.com/4Thsnwb5cx
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 6, 2021
We could see some serious competitiveness within the Cowboys’ wide receiver corps as well this year. Cooper is the established star, but plenty around Cowboys camp have said that CeeDee Lamb has looked incredible, and could be the team’s true WR1 this fall.
Toss in Michael Gallup, another talented pass catcher for Dallas, and there is plenty to figure out at the position for the franchise moving forward.
We continue to build toward a 2022 offseason decision, one in which the Cowboys will decide between retaining WR Amari Cooper or re-signing WR Michael Gallup. If Gallup signed and team parts with Cooper (it is financially prohibitive to pay both), only $6M in dead cap for Cooper.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 7, 2021
This summer featured some trade rumors with Amari Cooper at the center. They didn’t materialize, but it is clear that he has something to prove this fall.
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