After months of speculation that the Dallas Cowboys would look to move on from wide receiver Amari Cooper, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the Cowboys would cut him before the start of the league year. Where do the Cowboys go from here with Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson, and Dalton Schultz all scheduled to hit free agency? How do they re-sign or replace so much potential production?
How could the Dallas Cowboys replace Amari Cooper?
History tells us the Cowboys won’t look at receivers — or any position — during the first wave of free agency. Jerry and Stephen Jones are as interested in winning deals as they are improving their football team. They’ve never been as cap-savvy as Rams GM Les Snead or Saints GM Mickey Loomis. They also prefer building through the draft.
The Cowboys used their first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft to acquire Cooper from the Raiders. They’re essentially cutting their draft pick only three seasons after receiving him. For a team that covets homegrown talent, the Jones boys essentially punted on that draft.
Since the Cowboys don’t often seek high-end outside talent, all big-money and even mid-tier free agents are probably out of the question. The decision to cut Cooper depletes the team in the short term and potentially wastes what should again be a good defense in 2022. How can they salvage this?
Could Michael Gallup’s injury save the Cowboys?
The NFL seemed to be higher on Gallup than most Cowboys fans probably realize. Although he’s primarily a downfield and sideline threat for Dallas, the league views him as a potential WR1. However, a late-season ACL tear could kill Gallup’s value in the free market.
Gallup and Dak Prescott have a fantastic on-field rapport. A one-year “prove-it” deal could be in store for the receiver. In Cooper’s absence, the Cowboys would go into 2022 with Gallup slated as their WR1 on the outside. CeeDee Lamb is probably still best-suited for a slot role where he can use the whole field to his advantage and attack zones on deep crossing routes versus zone.
Gallup had 1,107 yards in 14 games back in 2019 but took a bit of a back seat in a crowded receiver room in 2020. His numbers dropped further in 2021 before his injury. We’ve seen him produce solid statistics, and a big season on the outside for Dallas in 2022 could net him a massive long-term deal before 2023.
Cowboys must look to keep Dalton Schultz
After news of Blake Jarwin’s unique hip injury, it seems unlikely the Cowboys let Dalton Schultz see the light of free agency. He’ll most likely see the franchise tag. Schultz was to Prescott what Jason Witten was to Tony Romo. He’s not necessarily the mold of move TE becoming the wave in a spread-out league, but he can still attack seams, and he’s an intelligent and sudden route runner.
Schultz finished 2021 with 78 catches, 808 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Although he came into the NFL billed as a blocking TE, he’s carved out an important niche as a receiver in the Cowboys’ offense that “aggressively takes what the defense gives them.”
And that’s why the Cowboys are discontinuing their relationship with Cooper. They don’t believe a true WR1 is a necessary investment because they put more faith in the Xs and Os than the Jimmies and the Joes.
Cowboys must attack wide receiver in the NFL Draft if they don’t retain Cedrick Wilson
Although the first round might be a bit of a stretch, I can’t imagine the Cowboys make it out of Day 2 without taking a receiver. The class has a lot of depth to it. There will be a plethora of options to choose from. Dallas wouldn’t let Cooper walk without having a third wide receiver they feel comfortable with.
If the league shows interest in Wilson’s brief flashes, it could be tough for the Cowboys to retain him. Although fans may get upset with Dallas’ seeming disinterest in attacking roster construction with aggression, they’ve done a good job understanding draft class strengths and making decisions based on that.
There could be any number of receivers they could be comfortable with at pick No. 24. Even at 56, the Cowboys will have an excellent chance to find a suitable second outside receiver. If they’re looking to move Lamb to the outside, there are many possible slot options to choose from.
It would take a Justin Jefferson-type miracle to find a receiver in the draft that can outproduce Cooper. However, they can mitigate their losses in an outstanding receiver class.