Dallas Cowboys: The comeback of Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper

After being tagged as a bust in Oakland, wide receiver Amari Cooper seems to have revived his career with the Dallas Cowboys.

This week, Dallas Cowboys‘ receiver Amari Cooper was chosen to represent America’s Team in the Pro Bowl to replace New Orleans Saints’ receiver, Michael Thomas. Cooper will play alongside his quarterback Dak Prescott. Amari’s resurgence is one of the greatest stories in Cowboys’ history, so let’s recap how Cooper put his name back on the map.

Cooper was drafted fourth overall in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. Coming out of college, scouts and general managers across the league recognized his talent. His speed and route running abilities were even compared to Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.

And for the first couple of years in his career, Cooper proved everyone right with 2,234 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He was elected to the Pro Bowl in his rookie and sophomore campaigns.

But in 2017, the star receiver’s production plummeted. Though he caught seven touchdowns, he only managed to rack up 680 yards. He was the third worst in the league in dropped passes with 10, and recorded a measly 53.3 completion percentage when targeted, per Pro Football Focus. Everything went down from there.

At the beginning of 2018, John Gruden was named head coach of the Oakland Raiders. Many were excited to see the longtime coach turned ESPN analyst back on the field. However, Gruden’s comeback turned out to be ugly for the team.

Before the first game of the season, Gruden traded away All-Pro outside linebacker, Khalil Mack. Raiders’ fans thought it could not get any worse, as he kept on trading key players that have been cornerstone players for the franchise.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, the Cowboys’ offense was pathetic. Fans were sharpening their pitchforks and crying for Prescott to be traded, the whole coaching staff fired, etc. The front office and coaching staff thought that they could make do with a receiver by committee approach and that this would somehow be “Dak friendly”. They were clearly mistaken.

Dallas’ defense was just becoming elite and choking teams out, but the offense could not put the team over the top. So at the bye week, they had a record of 3-4.

Then, to the nation’s surprise, the Cowboys traded the 2019 first round pick for Cooper. Cowboys Nation seemed split down the middle. Some declared it as a terrible trade– with the recent success the organization has had in the first round, why would they give the pick up for a washed out receiver? And others were excited with adding such a talent with upside but concerned about the price.

In Cooper’s first game with the team, he grabbed a touchdown, but the Cowboys fell short and lost the game. The next few games, Cooper continued to grow and help the Cowboys’ passing game. With the presence of a number one receiver, the team went on to win back to back games for the first time of the season.

On Thanksgiving day, Cooper put on a show. He reeled in eight receptions on eight targets for 180 yards and two touchdowns. This was Cooper’s coming out party.

The Cowboys went on to make their way in the playoffs. In 11 games with Dallas, Cooper racked up 896 yards and seven touchdowns. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones is back on the fans’ good side, and Prescott’s future looks a lot brighter now that he has a threat downfield.

In the middle of the season, Cooper was forced to move from Oakland to Dallas, learn a new system, quarterback, coach, etc. He was great from the start. Imagine how good Cooper could be with a whole offseason to grow his chemistry with Prescott, and the rest of his teammates. If the Cowboys find an offensive coordinator that gameplans more touches to Cooper, expect him to put up gaudy numbers.

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