The Cowboys found a way to keep both Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, even when the rules changed.
It looked for most of the offseason like the Cowboys would be able to hang onto their star quarterback-receiver combination without signing either to a long-term extension.
Then a new collective bargaining agreement was ratified Sunday, meaning each NFL team only could place a franchise or transition tag on one player instead of two. So, the Cowboys tagged Prescott — a one-year contract worth $33 million, holding his place as contract talks continue — and risked losing Cooper for a few hours Monday.
Despite plenty of other wide receiver-needy teams like the Jets, Seahawks and Eagles — and suddenly the Vikings (after trading Stefon Diggs) and Texans (after trading DeAndre Hopkins) — Cooper returned to the Cowboys without fully diving into the market. He reportedly received a five-year, $100 million deal.
Originally a first-round draft pick of the Raiders, Cooper’s career took off after a midseason trade to the Cowboys in 2018. He also elevated Prescott’s game, with 132 catches, 1,914 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 25 games since the trade.
Following a wild day of reshuffling on the first day of free agency, Robby Anderson of the Jets is the new best receiver available. He said there is “mutual interest” in returning, but the exploding market could dictate otherwise.
Cooper was the kind of big fish who could have helped the Jets salvage a day of missing out on the top linemen available in free agency.