Cowboys: Stephen Jones non-comment might’ve confirmed Amari Cooper’s exit

Stephen Jones wasn’t prepared to comment on Amari Cooper’s future in Dallas, thus providing more certainty that a move could be coming.

The Cowboys enter the offseason in a salary cap conundrum. Jones has already stated that Ezekiel Elliott isn’t going anywhere, especially given his guaranteed salary in 2022.

Cooper isn’t as lucky. Jerry Jones’ commentary as to his disappointment with Cooper after last season is well-known, and speaks to the overall feeling within the organization that the Alabama product hasn’t lived up to his end of the bargain.

“The reason those contracts are being discussed is because they have two sides to them: one’s got it coming and the other’s got to pay it,” said Jones. ”The one that’s got it coming is going to go out and perform usually to the level of the contract. That’s usually the way I think about those contracts.”

Amari Cooper’s Cowboys future in flux

The Cowboys have an out in Cooper’s contract, and they very well might use it. They could also trade a player of Cooper’s caliber for some draft capital if they so choose.

Jones refused to comment on Cooper’s future while discussing Ezekiel Elliott. He wouldn’t even go there.

“It’s too early for me to address that yet,” Jones said. “I mean, we’re continuing to have conversations.”

If the Cowboys cut Cooper, he would count just $6 million against the salary cap. They have to make a decision before the fifth day of the new league year, or else Cooper’s $20 million salary for 2022 becomes fully guaranteed.

Dak Prescott could help out his favorite target by restructuring his own deal and freeing up over $10 million of cap space. Jones doesn’t want to say that part out loud, but if Prescott values his working relationship with Cooper, that’s the best answer.