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INDIANAPOLIS — The rapidly-growing surplus of wide receivers might be about to claim Amari Cooper as its next victim.
The Cowboys are expected to cut Cooper if he is not traded before the start of the new league year on March 16, as was first reported by ESPN. Interested teams know the financial situation puts the Cowboys in a position to lose all trade leverage: Cooper is scheduled to count $20 million against the cap, but the Cowboys can free up $14 million in space at a dead-cap charge of $6 million by cutting him.
As is becoming an annual trend in the NFL offseason, a deep draft class combined with a deep free-agent class is making teams reconsider paying huge salaries to receivers when salary-cap flexibility is needed and cheaper replacements could be had. The Cowboys are close to reaching a new deal to keep free-agent receiver Michael Gallup, according to The Dallas Morning News, in a receiving corps with CeeDee Lamb and looming free-agent Cedrick Wilson.
Cooper, a four-time Pro Bowler, finished his fourth season in Dallas with 68 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. Though the Cowboys won the NFC East last season, Cooper grumbled about his role in the offense in late December.
The writing was on the wall earlier this week when Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones was asked about Cooper’s future and said: “It’s too early for me to address that. I mean, we’re continuing to have conversations.”
It appears those talks reached a dead end.
The Bills have given receiver Cole Beasley permission to seek a trade, according to NFL Network.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll both came from the Bills, who signed Beasley in 2019. Daboll, as offensive coordinator, installed plays borrowed from Beasley’s college career at SMU specifically to capitalize on his strengths, according to a team source.
But the Giants already have Sterling Shepard and Kadarius Toney to play in the slot. Shepard is considering the Giants’ request that he accept a pay cut as he recovers from a torn Achilles.
Another star player on the Patriots is going to have to get his big contract somewhere else. Make that the umpteenth time under Bill Belichick’s watch.
Cornerback J.C. Jackson, who said he was willing to play on the franchise tag, but wanted a big extension sooner rather than later, is unlikely to be tagged, according to NFL Network. He immediately would become one of the top available defensive free agents.
Jackson has 25 career interceptions in four seasons, including eight in 2021 when he took over as the No. 1 cornerback for the traded Stephon Gilmore and made his first Pro Bowl.
Pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who is projected to be one of the top two picks in the draft, is Michigan through and through. After starring for the Wolverines, he could be a hometown hero with the Lions if he slips to No. 2.
And how would he spend his first NFL paycheck?
“I probably have to [buy] a Ford Bronco,” Hutchinson said. “Get a little car, affordable, but, you know, good-looking. We’re going to figure the rest of it out.”
The Ford family owns the Lions.
— Jaclyn Hendricks contributed to this story.
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