Coming into this piece, I was prepared to write about how the Dallas Cowboys needed to resolve Wide Receiver Amari Cooper’s situation and provide a dialogue on why it would be a mistake if the front office moves on from him.
However, all hell broke loose when ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter who is typically known to drop breaking news, better known as “Schefty Bombs”, tweeted out the Cowboys are likely to release Amari Cooper before his money becomes guaranteed on March 20.
After hearing the news, I admit I was angry and annoyed since Schefter ruined my argument I was about to craft, but also aggravated since the franchise seems fine with just being an “okay” team.
However, after some good ole’ expresso and lunch I settled down and wrote up the three mistakes the Cowboys need to avoid this offseason. So, without further ado, check it out below:
1. Not getting any compensation for Amari Cooper
In a logical world, if you’re a general manager of an NFL team you wouldn’t outright release or trade one of your best players, right? Well, I guess I’m wrong and failed the first task of being a general manager since the Cowboys are preparing to release Amari Cooper, who happens to be their best wideout.
There had been rumors around his release, but it never felt the idea would transpire since it made no sense to take away Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott’s top weapon.
With Cooper on his way out, the franchise has to realize they would be making an even bigger mistake if they let him walk for nothing since they traded a 2019 first-round pick for him to the then-Oakland Raiders three years ago.
Upon his arrival, the impact was felt immediately as he helped them win the next seven of eight games and was one of the biggest reasons Prescott’s numbers jumped over the next three seasons.
The one trade idea that circulated through the internet before today’s news was a scenario of moving Cooper to the Baltimore Ravens for Cornerback Marcus Peters, who is a former-All Pro corner, but is also recovering from an ACL injury.
It was seen as a move the Boys would be fine making since they would get a veteran corner who could run with Cornerback Trevon Diggs, but it’s likely a trade isn’t bound to happen.
Furthermore, if the Cowboys make it official and release their elite wideout, it should be seen as a massive failure from the front office who essentially let go of first-round talent for jack squat and gave up on someone they paid huge after three years.
2. Letting Safety Jayron Kearse walk in free agency
A few seasons ago, the franchise’s situation at safety was considered one of their biggest problems and at one-point fans were pleading for them to go after Former Seattle Seahawks Safety Earl Thomas.
Thomas, who was considered an elite safety, even told the Cowboys coaches to “come get me” out of Seattle, but the club never made the move.
The club continued to search for solutions through free agency and the NFL Draft and wound up drafting Donovan Wilson in 2019, and signed NFL veterans Malik Hooker, Damontae Kazee, and Jayron Kearse last summer.
Based on early developments, fans seemed to be more excited about the more notable names in Hooker and Kazee heading into the season, but Kearse would surprise everyone by outplaying both of them and becoming a key piece on the defense.
According to PFF (Pro Football Focus), Kearse had a 76.8 grade that ranked him as the 13th-best safety in the NFL and finished with a career-high 101 tackles.
Kearse, who was once considered a journeyman, was able to overachieve in his one-year prove-it contract and undeniably earned himself a nice payday.
The Cowboys would be foolish not to bring back the safety next season since he proved to be valuable in guarding bigger tight ends in man-to-man coverage, flew all over the field, and you wouldn’t have to restart the cycle of addressing the safety position.
3. Failing to address the offensive line
It’s crazy to consider that we are having to address that the Cowboys need to beef up the trenches once again. It was just a few years ago when the title for the NFL’s top-rated offensive line was given to the Boys, and they had three Hall of Famers in their lineup.
Now with Center Travis Frederick retired, the two Hall of Famers that remain are Tackles Tyron Smith and Zach Martin, but they can never stay healthy.
Beyond those two, the Cowboys have had Tackle La’el Collins and Guard Connor Williams as players they could rely on, but both have been either injury-plagued or too inconsistent.
To address their offensive line woes, numerous mocks have the Boys going with an OL prospect in the first round, since they realize the team won’t have enough money to go after any big-time targets in free agency.
Some names that have been mocked to the team included Iowa Center Tyler Linderbaum, Boston College Guard Zion Johnson, Northern Iowa Tackle Trevor Penning, and Tulsa Tackle Tyler Smith.
However, with the pending Cooper departure, it should be interesting to see what position the Boys will pick come April.
