The Dallas Cowboys are trading wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns.
Amari Cooper has been traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Cleveland Browns.
Dallas was looking at moving off Cooper’s massive contract in an attempt to get under the salary cap. Had the Cowboys not found a suitable trade partner, the expectation was for Cooper to be released. Though other teams were in the mix to potentially trade for or sign Cooper, the Browns came out of the woodwork to get him in the days leading up to 2022 NFL free agency.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Cooper and a sixth-round pick are going to the Browns in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick.
Cowboys are finalizing a trade to send WR Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for a 2022 fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2022
Amari Cooper salary cap hit
By trading Cooper, the Cowboys will free up $16 million of salary cap space, while taking on $6 million of dead cap money.
The Amari Cooper trade will allow the Cowboys to save $16.0M against the salary cap with $6.0M in dead money
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 12, 2022
This is a big deal for both sides and the ripple effects will be felt in the 2022 NFL Draft and in free agency with the Cowboys now having some cap savings to pursue cheaper options than what Cooper cost.
Additionally, it could mean Jarvis Landry is on a new team next year with the Browns possibly cutting the veteran receiver or trading him for a late draft pick.