Cowboys owner Jerry Jones once promised fans an “all-in” strategy for building a competitive roster, hinting at bold moves in the offseason. For many, this meant possibly signing top free agents or making ambitious trades. Instead, Dallas focused on securing big extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb—solid, but familiar moves that fell short of the shakeup some had hoped for.
In free agency, the Cowboys’ standout move was re-signing cornerback Jourdan Lewis—a respectable choice, but hardly transformative. This season, as Dallas faces offensive struggles similar to 2018, fans recall how a midseason trade for Amari Cooper reenergized the team. But now, as other teams, like the Buffalo Bills, make moves, Dallas has remained conservative, even as Cooper himself is on the move again.
Jones recently revisited the decision to trade Cooper in 2021. On 105.3 The Fan, he explained how trading Cooper saved nearly $20 million for the Cowboys. “We went for the dollars,” Jones explained, defending the trade as a financial choice to benefit Dallas’s future, even if it meant taking a lesser draft return.
At the time, Cooper’s five-year, $100 million contract seemed steep but justified, as he delivered 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns over 56 games. With today’s WR market soaring—Lamb’s extension exceeds $30 million annually—Cooper’s deal might almost be a bargain by comparison. This makes the savings from trading him feel like a missed opportunity, especially when investments in other players, like Michael Gallup and Terence Steele, haven’t paid off as hoped.
For fans, Jones’ reasoning sounds more like a cost-saving strategy than a tactical roster move, revealing that Dallas would have released Cooper if they hadn’t secured a trade partner. It’s a reminder of a move that now feels rushed, as Cleveland recently acquired a similar deal for Cooper with higher draft value than Dallas received.
As fans reflect on the Cowboys’ decisions, they can’t help but wonder if more aggressive moves would have bolstered the team’s playoff chances. Still, with lessons from past trades in mind, fans hold on to hope that the team will make bolder choices in the seasons ahead.
