Dallas Cowboys: This Amari Cooper stat may make your jaw drop

For all the hype surrounding the Amari Cooper trade to the Dallas Cowboys this week, fans might be shocked by this revealing stat.

At this point, you’ve heard everything about wide receiver Amari Cooper if you’re a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. But there’s one statistic that is likely to shake the confidence of even the most diehard True Blue fan of America’s Team.

The Cowboys traded away their first-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft to the Oakland Raiders for Cooper earlier this week. And he’s expected to significantly boost Dallas’ passing game, which ranks a lowly 29th in the NFL, averaging just 183 yards per contest through the air.

First, Let’s start with the positives about Cooper. Yes, he’s only 24 years old. Yes, this is his fourth season in the NFL. And, of course, he is a two-time Pro Bowler (2016, 2017).

The Cowboys essentially traded away a first round draft pick for a first round draft pick as Cooper was the fourth overall selection in 2015. But Amari is a proven commodity, a guarantee you don’t receive in the draft.

Cooper instantly becomes the Cowboys top wide receiver. In a new environment, on arguably the league’s biggest stage, the fourth-year wide out gets an opportunity to reestablish himself as one of the best receivers in the NFL.

The Cowboys newest addition will be joined by slot receiver Cole Beasley, rookie wide out Michael Gallup and under performing veteran receiver Allen Hurns. Cooper gives Dallas an explosive option at the receiver position, which the team believes is the missing piece needed to ignite their stagnant passing offense.

But the truth is Cooper has never really been a true number one wide receiver. During his first three seasons in the NFL, he was part of a receiver tandem along with another former 2009 first round pick, Michael Crabtree. In fact, Crabtree was the Raiders’ top wide receiver during that three year span from 2015-2017.

This offseason, the now 31-year old Crabtree signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens after Oakland released him. He’s currently the Ravens’ leading receiver.

Without Crabtree to balance out Cooper, Amari struggled to produce on his own this season. He racked up just 22 receptions for 280 yards and one score through six games. The fact Beasley has better numbers is worrisome.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the trade for Cooper concerns his disappointing history with drops. This was highlighted recently by CBS Sports HQ via Twitter.

According to CBS Sports HQ, Cooper has the highest drop percentage out of the 50 most-targeted receivers in the past four years. During his career so far, Amari’s drop percentage is a disappointing 8.4. In a nutshell, of those targeted the most in the NFL, no one has dropped more passes than Cooper since 2015. Ouch. He’s dropped a total of 35 passes in his four-year career.

Former Cowboys number one wide receiver, Dez Bryant, also made the list and tied for the fourth worst ranking with a drop percentage of 7.4. One of the biggest frustrations for Cowboys fans during the past three seasons was the lack of production from Bryant. Particularly his inability to create separation and his dropped passes.

In Cooper, the Cowboys have acquired a wideout with the skill set to be a top-flight receiver in the NFL. But his inconsistent play and numerous drops make this trade a major gamble.

This troubling statistic surrounding the Dallas Cowboys newest addition should have fans very concerned. We’ve all seen the impact a dropped pass on a critical play can have. Sacrificing a first round selection puts the pressure of the world on the shoulders of Amari Cooper. Like it or not, the Cowboys have crowned Cooper this season’s savior. Lord help us if he fails.