The Dallas Cowboys gave up a first-round pick to get Amari Cooper out of Oakland in 2018. But after four years and with Cooper set to make $20 million in 2022, will the Cowboys keep him around?
Appearing on NFL Now, NFL insider Ian Rapoport said that the Cowboys don’t have a firm answer right now. From what he’s gathering, the Cowboys seem more likely to make him take a paycut if he wants to stay.
“Now it’s do they pay him $20 million or not?” Rapoport said, via NESN. “Stephen Jones was talking to reporters yesterday, essentially said that there is no firm answer on that, making you wonder is Amari Cooper going to be there or are they going to ask him to take a pay cut? It didn’t sound like restructure his deal – it sounded like it was going to be alter his contract — in other words, take a pay cut — or just not. It doesn’t sound like bringing him back at that number is something to consider.”
Rapoport made it clear that the Cowboys will not pay Cooper the full amount on his contract this year. That effectively puts the ball in Cooper’s court whether he wants to stay in Dallas or go to someone who will pay him.
Combine Debrief: Cardinals’ brass, Amari Cooper up, Jimmy Garoppolo’s stock down (via @greggrosenthal)https://t.co/EM4gjZssIi pic.twitter.com/ET9JIinZE1
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 3, 2022
Amari Cooper is a four-time Pro Bowler with 517 receptions for 7,076 yards and 46 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons. But this past year wasn’t exactly his best.
Cooper had 68 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021. He had six receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown in their playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
If Cooper takes a paycut then it’ll be a clear sign that he’s ride or die with the Cowboys. But if he doesn’t, the open market could be adding one star wide receiver.
Will Amari Cooper take a paycut?
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