5 players who Cowboys need to be great in 2020

4. Amari Cooper, WR

Dak Prescott threw for 1,417 yards with eight scores and four picks in his first seven games of the 2018 season. He completed just over 62 percent of his pass attempts.

Jerry Jones and the front office then decided to trade for receiver Amari Cooper. At the time, trading a first-round pick for Cooper seemed like an astronomical price. Now, that is not the case.

Following the trade for Cooper, Prescott had 2,468 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions with a completion percentage over 71 percent in the final nine games of 2018. In 2019, Prescott posted career-highs in touchdowns thrown (30) and passing yards (4,902).

Coincidence that Prescott started playing some of his best football when Cooper arrived? No, and that’s why Cooper needs to be great in 2020.

Not only does Cooper need to have a great season for the purposes of contending. He needs to have a big campaign to help his quarterback secure a long-term deal, and convince management paying Prescott is wise if no contract is offered to the gunslinger this offseason.

The latter reasons are secondary purposes as to why Cooper needs to match his career year from last year. Of course, playing for a division and a Super Bowl is more important, and him playing well dictates how realistic those possibilities are.

Cooper is not only a fantastic receiver; he is a strong decoy in an offense that has weapons such as Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb and Ezekiel Elliott. Whether he is making the play or being used to attract attention to free up others, Cooper is one of the team’s most valuable players.

In 2019, Cooper set career marks with 1,189 receiving yards and eight touchdown grabs. He was named to the Pro Bowl, and Jones awarded him a five-year deal worth $100 million with $60 million guaranteed.