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After Tagging Dak and Re-Signing Cooper, Cowboys’ Super Bowl Odds Listed at +2200

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in NFL Football

Updated Mar 9, 2021 · 4:57 PM PST

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott running with the ball
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs the ball as Philadelphia Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards (57) and cornerback Michael Jacquet (38) close in to make the stop in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 27. 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
  • The Dallas Cowboys have signed Amari Cooper, and slapped quarterback Dak Prescott with a franchise tag
  • The moves ensure the Cowboys return to action with their offensive core intact, but have they done enough to return to Super Bowl contention
  • Get all the odds and insight into the Cowboys moves in the story below

The Dallas Cowboys took major steps towards avoiding any unnecessary offseason drama on Monday. In addition to slapping the franchise tag on Dak Prescott, Dallas also locked up their star quarterback’s favorite target, signing wide receiver Amari Cooper to a five-year deal worth $100 million.

While the moves ensure that the Cowboys will return to action in 2020 with their core largely intact, they have failed to give them an immediate lift in the Super Bowl odds, where they remain stalled at +2200.

Odds to Win Super Bowl 55

Team Odds
Kansas City Chiefs +650
Baltimore Ravens +900
New Orleans Saints +1200
San Francisco 49ers +1200
New England Patriots +1600
Dallas Cowboys +2200
Philadelphia Eagles +2200
Green Bay Packers +2500
Seattle Seahawks +2500

Odds taken on Mar. 17. 

Moves Keep Super Bowl Window Ajar

After stumbling to an 8-8 finish and out of playoff contention in 2019, the Cowboys entered the offseason at a crossroads, but with Monday’s moves, the team has likely kept their Super Bowl window at least partially open for at least one more season.

Dallas has reportedly offered Prescott one of the largest deals in NFL history and has until mid-July to ink him to a long-term deal. If the Cowboys don’t get him signed, Prescott will play the 2020 campaign under the franchise tag before become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

The signing of Cooper ensures the team will return to action next season with their “Big 3” in the fold, which includes rusher Ezekiel Elliott. That paves the way for the Cowboys to once again be one of the most offensively prolific teams in the NFL. Powered by Prescott’s 4,902 passing yards, which ranked second only to Jameis Winston, Dallas led the league in total yards last season. The squad also ranked sixth overall in the NFL with 27.6 points scored per game.

Big Splash Fails to Boost Moribund Odds

Despite Monday’s big splash, the Cowboys have taken a small step back in Super Bowl odds, after opening the day with average odds of +2000. In the wake of Cooper’s signing, the team saw their downfield depth take a hit with free-agent receiver Randall Cobb reportedly signing a deal with the cross-state rival Houston Texans. And issues remain to be solved on defense.

Free-agent cornerback Byron Jones has already left town, signing a lucrative deal with the Miami Dolphins and question marks remain as to how the team will deal with free agents like defensive ends Robert Quinn and Michael Bennett, and defensive tackle Maliek Collins.

Of course, the Cowboys will once again enjoy the benefit of playing in the less-than-dominant NFC East, where they continue to lag behind the Philadelphia Eagles as +140 second favorites in the divisional odds.

With the New York Giants and Washington Redskins not looking ready to return to respectability in time for the upcoming season, it will once again be a two-team race in the division that no team seemingly wanted to win in 2019. That is until the Eagles turned the corner late in the season with a four-game win streak to steal the divisional crown from the Cowboys.

Status Quo Unlikely Enough to Overtake Eagles

The Eagles also kept busy on Monday, most notably by beefing up an already stout defense by signing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a three-year deal. Philadelphia’s move to sign Hargrave, while not getting in on free agent cornerbacks like Jones and James Bradberry, raised some eyebrows. Philadelphia also has work to do to strengthen their receiving corps, which was particularly hard hit by the injury bug and off-field drama in 2019.

However, with over $40 million in salary-cap space and ten picks coming up in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Eagles have plenty of time to address their offseason concerns. That puts added pressure on the Cowboys to continue making bold moves beyond maintaining the status quo if they are to return to the top of the NFC East and rejoin the list of top Super Bowl contenders.

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