Cowboys News: Latest free agency buzz underlines stupidity of Cowboys' Amari Cooper trade

The Dallas Cowboys sure could have used Amari Cooper in their playoff loss to the 49ers. CeeDee Lamb was the only reliable outlet for Dak Prescott, and the offense as a whole was doomed the second Tony Pollard left with an injury.

In Jerry Jones’ eyes, though, the Cowboys have zero regrets about trading Cooper. In the same soundbite, the owner admitted what was left of the receiver position — excluding CeeDee Lamb, obviously — didn’t produce enough.

With the NFL Combine wrapping up this weekend, Cooper is once again a talking point for the Cowboys.

Speaking to reporters Saturday, Jones noted that the money saved by trading Cooper will help Dallas keep Ezekiel Elliott. Jones believes Elliott is still a difference-maker when healthy, but he conveniently had nothing to say about the futures of defensive free agents Leighton Vander Esch and Donovan Wilson.

One would think trading Cooper would allow Dallas to retain key free agents this offseason. Per insider Jordan Schultz, though, it’s looking increasingly likely that Vander Esch and Wilson will be donning new uniforms in 2023.

My sense is that both Leighton Vander Esch and Donovan Wilson will likely have new homes in 2023. In an ideal world, #Cowboys would bring both back, but in Wilson’s case especially, the price has gone up. Team-high 101 tackles, along with 5 sacks last year. Keeps getting better.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 5, 2023

More Cowboys News:

Worth reiterating that the Cowboys could have restructured Cooper’s contract to save $14 million against the cap. There are theories about why Dallas offloaded Cooper, but it ultimately boiled down to the price of his contract.
For context, Patriots free agent Jakobi Meyers could make between $15-20 million, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Meyers has never notched more than 85 catches, 870 yards, or six touchdowns in a single season. In 2022 alone, Cooper caught 78 balls for 1,160 yards and nine scores.
Speaking of receivers, the Cowboys met with several of the top receivers in this year’s class at the Combine. The list includes Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, USC’s Jordan Addison, Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt, Boston College’s Zay Flowers, and Maryland’s Rakim Jarrett. Four of those wideouts tested well in Indianapolis, with the exception of Addison, who disappointed with his RAS.

Second run got Jordan Addison over 5.00, but has to be a disappointing Combine for him so far. not the kind of numbers you expect from a top WR.https://t.co/j7LLLbqNgQ #RAS pic.twitter.com/2TE3jkj6tC
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 4, 2023

NFL News:

Derek Carr has signed with the Saints. It’s a four-year deal worth up to $150 million and includes $100 million guaranteed. Carr will get $60 million at the time of signing, and $10 million once year three kicks in.
Calvin Ridley has been reinstated from his year-long suspension for gambling on NFL games. The former longtime Falcon was traded to the Jaguars in November, adding to an emerging group of pass-catchers for Trevor Lawrence that includes Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram.
The Vikings released linebacker Eric Kendricks as they work to get under the cap before March 14. The move frees up $9.5 million in cap space. Before the move, Minnesota was $24.4 million over the salary cap.