Report: Cowboys “likely” to release WR Amari Cooper

Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver Amari Cooper is “likely” to be released, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Cooper is due $20 million on March 20th and if the Cowboys let him go, they don’t pay that while also saving $16 million in cap space, which is needed for the Cowboys.

If Cooper is let go, the only starting receiver under contract would be CeeDee Lamb, as Cedrick Wilson and Michael Gallup are both set for free agency. The makeup of the Cowboys receiving group could look extremely different in 2022.

The Cowboys will likely need to either bring Gallup or Wilson back or go after a free agent. There are a few free agents out there worth pursuing, but prices could rise sharply if Davante Adams and Chris Godwin aren’t allowed to hit free agency. There is no easy answer, but letting Cooper go will help them financially and replacing Cooper with a player like Christian Kirk while also retaining some cap flexibility is probably their best hope.