Amari Cooper rumors: 2 rival suitors emerge if Cowboys release him
By John Buhler
Should the Dallas Cowboys release wide receiver Amari Cooper, expect for the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots to be in hot pursuit of him during NFL free agency.
If Amari Cooper is released by the Dallas Cowboys, expect for the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots to be potential suitors for him on the open market.
Dallas is in a bad spot when it comes to the salary cap heading into NFL free agency. America’s Team is more than $21 million in the hole, and this hole gets even deeper after using the franchise tag on tight end Dalton Schultz. With seemingly no other option to get under the cap faster than by cutting Cooper, it feels like an inevitability at this point that he will be released.
Should Cooper become available, expect for the Dolphins and the Patriots to hone on him.
Both the #Patriots and #Dolphins would have great interest in signing Amari Cooper if he’s released by the #Cowboys, per sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 8, 2022
Bill Belichick sees him as a true No. 1 for Mac Jones, while Miami wants to add another downfield weapon alongside Jaylen Waddle and DeVante Parker.
Amari Cooper rumors: Dolphins, Patriots in hot pursuit of potential free agent
Miami and New England are two teams who have obvious interest in Cooper. While the Kansas City Chiefs could look to add him as Patrick Mahomes’ coveted third receiving weapon, they do not have a ton of cap space. As for the Dolphins, no team has more available cap space to spend than them. There is a strong possibility the South Florida native gets the bag and will be heading home.
As far as the Patriots are concerned, head coach Bill Belichick is adamant about getting second-year starting quarterback Mac Jones a reliable No. 1 wide receiver. Cooper has been a No. 1 since being drafted by the Silver and Black out of Alabama, which just so happens to be Jones’ alma mater as well. While Nick Saban is a Belichick protege, how sure are we Cooper is a Patriots guy?
Ultimately, Cooper may not be a free agent for all that long. Many of the top receivers that were playing on expiring contracts a year ago may look to re-up with their current teams, whether that is on the franchise tag or on new, long-term deals. With a breakup almost certainly happening between Cooper and the Cowboys, maybe he resurfaces with either the Dolphins or the Patriots?
Where Cooper ultimately ends up will be so fascinating and he should make his new team better.
light. Related Story. Dak Prescott could do Cowboys a major salary cap favor