Cowboys want both Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb in 2020
By John Buhler
With 25 impending free agents, the Dallas Cowboys have a lot of work to do, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb back.
No team will be more intriguing in 2020 NFL free agency than the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas has a jaw-dropping 25 impending free agents this spring. Their biggest name slated to hit the open market is starting quarterback Dak Prescott. While it remains to be seen if he’s given a long-term deal, slapped with the franchise tag or allowed to walk, it does seem the Cowboys want to bring back their two biggest free-agent wide receivers, Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb.
New Packers head coach Mike McCarthy met with the media at the NFL Combine on Wednesday. He addressed the amount of work Dallas has ahead of it in free agency, as well as the Cowboys’ interest in bringing back Cooper and Cobb in 2020.
“You know, our free agents list is high at 25,” said McCarthy. “So my first goal is to try to get as many of those guys back as we can and then see what we can add. As a coach, you want to have as competitive of a roster as you possibly can.”
The #Cowboys have 25 free agents and McCarthy talks about the situation.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) February 26, 2020
Later said he wants both Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb back pic.twitter.com/L99ZOBpZoX
It comes as no surprise the Cowboys want to keep Cooper and Cobb. Dallas traded a first-round pick in the 2019 draft for Cooper with the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018. Cooper has been a big part of the Dallas receiving game upon his arrival. As for Cobb, he spent the bulk of his career playing for McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers, so the working relationship is strong there.
Though spending a good bit of cap space on veteran receivers may not always be the best course of action in free agency, keeping Cooper and Cobb makes ample sensefor the Cowboys. They complement each other in the receiving game. Cooper is the No. 1 option who can shine outside the numbers, while Cobb does his best work making plays in the slot.
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Given the Cowboys’ initial investment in Cooper, they won’t be okay with him walking after only a year and change with the team. So he’ll be a top priority to receive a new contract. Since Cobb won’t be anywhere near as pricey as Cooper, he’s likely to be back in Dallas, especially given his rapport with McCarthy from their time together in Green Bay.