Odds on Amari Cooper Playing for Cowboys in 2020

• The Dallas Cowboys have a big decision to make in whether to sign Amari Cooper to a new contract or to let him walk via free agency
• The Cowboys have around $77 million in cap space but also have to sign Dak Prescott to a new deal, which could cost $33 million per year on a franchise tag
• Will the Cowboys splurge on Cooper or will someone else outbid them?

The Dallas Cowboys have a bit of a conundrum on their hands. While they have plenty of cap space to work with this offseason, they have to take care of a couple of big deal with Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper.

The general sense is that Prescott is back no matter what, but will Cooper be back with him? The odds actually indicate he’s favored to leave.

Odds Amari Cooper is on Cowboys Roster Week 1

Odds taken on Mar. 5th.

Cowboys Have Fifth-Most Cap Space

The Cowboys entered the offseason with the fifth-most cap space as they have about $74-$77 million to work with. In many scenarios, that would put them in a great situation – especially since they were already close to being a playoff team. However, this cap space won’t take them very far this year.

Top 10 projected cap space in 2020

1. Dolphins- $88.1M
2. Colts- $86.1M
3. Bills- $82.3M
4. Bucs- $79.9M
5. Cowboys- $77.3M
6. Giants- $74M
7. Broncos- $70M
8. Browns- $62M
9. Texans- $61.3M
10. Redskins- $61.1M

Full list —>>> https://t.co/JdRg7AJ5FG

— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) March 3, 2020

The Cowboys will have three of the best possible free agents on the market in Prescott, Cooper and Byron Jones. They cost Dallas just over $22 million last season; Prescott will surpass that number alone this year. It’s looking more and more like he’ll sign for the franchise tag and if he does, that would take up $33 million of the cap space.

If the Cowboys also ink Cooper to a big deal – say in the $20m range – that doesn’t leave them with much to round out their roster. That’s the big conundrum here.

How Much Is Cooper Going to Get?

What’s bizarre is that the Cowboys haven’t already gotten the deal done with Cooper. Had they locked him up last season or last offseason, we’d likely be talking about smaller numbers than what we’re looking at now. Of course, it’s possible they tried and that Cooper still wanted to hit the market anyway.

At any rate, the big issue now is the Cowboys are bidding against other teams. There is going to be some team with a ton of cap space that won’t care about the money – or be impacted by the cap as much as the Cowboys are – and that could sway Cooper to leave.

A whole lotta toe-drag swag 😤

Amari Cooper's Top 10 catches of 2019! pic.twitter.com/8Omd7BIKTL

— NFL (@NFL) February 26, 2020

For example, let’s say the Cowboys offer him $19 million and make him the second-highest paid wideout in the game. But if someone like the Miami Dolphins or Buffalo Bills makes him the first $100 million receiver in NFL history, he’s probably gone.

Why Not Tag Him?

The short of it is the Cowboys might not have that option. Remember, they haven’t struck a deal with Prescott yet, so the franchise tag is likely to go his way. In most years, the Cowboys could still use their transition tag on Cooper, but that might not be an option in 2020.

Sources: Cowboys likely to use franchise tag on Dak Prescott as contract talks remain at impasse.https://t.co/0DJz4Srw91

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 2, 2020

The NFL has sent the NFLPA a new collective bargaining agreement, which they’ll be voting on soon. One of the changes blocks teams from using both tags. Dallas might simply not have that option if the players ratify the new agreement.

Without the second tag, it increases the chances that Cooper walks in free agency.

What’s the Best Bet?

I do think Cooper is on his way out of Dallas. The Cowboys would love to keep him but by waiting this long, it’s hurt their chances already. It seems like they weren’t entirely sure about paying him as a No. 1 receiver beforehand and now they’ll be bidding against others.

Tag&Trade/Tag/Walk/Sign. Pick one for each Cowboys player.

Dak Prescott
Byron Jones
Amari Cooper
Robert Quinn

What say you?

— DaltonBMiller on TikTok (@DaltonBMiller) March 5, 2020

The issue is that Cooper is likely to get superstar money and the Cowboys probably don’t want to overpay – especially when they’re strapped for cash. They’ll make a nice offer but at the end of the day, Cooper will go elsewhere for a bigger payday.