A few weeks ago, it became apparent that the Dallas Cowboys were going to have to release or trade some premier talent due to salary cap reasons. Most notably for the Cowboys is WR Amari Cooper. Cooper started his career with the Raiders before being traded to Dallas in 2018. On March 12th, just days before the new year starts, the Cowboys decided to move on from Cooper, trading him to the Cleveland Browns. Let us analyze the deal, why Cooper fits Cleveland, and what this means for the Cowboys going forward.

Trade Details

Dallas Receives: 

• 2022 5th Round Pick

• 2022 6th Round Pick

Cleveland Receives:

• WR Amari Cooper

• 2022 6th Round Pick

Breaking Down Cooper

It was very obvious that the Cleveland Browns needed a number one receiver at the end of the season. They do have some nice pieces like WR Donovan Peoples-Jones and TE David Njoku, but that is really it at the moment with WR Jarvis Landry likely headed elsewhere. Cleveland receivers struggled last season to win one-on-one matchups and did not have that “go-to” receiver to hit when they needed a third-down conversion, especially after the release of WR Odell Beckham Jr. 

As for Cooper, he is widely regarded as one of the best route runners in football, showing the ability to create separation. Even in a down year with a loaded Dallas receiving core, Cooper had 865 yards and 8 touchdowns in 15 games. His eight touchdowns tied a career-high, which is a number he also hit in 2019. For a career, he has 7,076 yards and 46 receiving touchdowns. The one thing that probably caused the draft picks to be lower is that Cooper is owed $20M, which is a lot for a receiver. Regardless, this move is a really nice fit for the Cleveland Browns and a reliable weapon for QB Baker Mayfield.

Jarvis Landry

Unfortunately, the trade for WR Amari Cooper most likely means Jarvis Landry’s tenure as a Cleveland Brown is over. Landry has a $16.3M cap hit, which is a lot for a number two receiver, especially with Cooper’s salary as well. Landry and the Browns have discussed a restructure, so that is still up in the air. Landry wants to add years to his deal, but Cleveland is hesitant at the moment. After the Cooper trade, Cleveland also gave Landry permission to seek a trade as well. If it is in fact the end for Landry in Cleveland, he would have played four years, hauling in 288 catches for 3,560 yards, 15 receiving touchdowns, and 4 rushing touchdowns. He was also a major part in bringing Cleveland back to relevance, as he was a part of the Browns first playoff appearance in over 20 years. In two playoff games, he scored two touchdowns. While he still has a chance to stay in Cleveland, all signs are pointing the other way.

Beginning of the End for Dallas?

The Cowboys have historically drafted very well. With that comes expensive paydays, which are now starting to catch up to the Cowboys. Cooper was the first domino to fall, but players like DE Demarcus Lawrence and OT La’el Collins could be next. Because of QB Dak Prescott and HB Ezekiel Elliott’s hefty contracts, it gives the Cowboys less wiggle room, causing really good football players to be “cap casualties”. Luckily for Dallas, they still have a ton of talent on their roster and can easily pivot off some of these players, but how many players are too many until it becomes an issue? The Cowboys will have to revamp their roster quickly, or else they can fall into a tough situation going forward.

Stats from profootballreference.com

Contract Info from spotrac.com

Trade Details from cbssports.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas

The saying “all good things must come to an end” was never truer on Monday, the day before the deadline, when Hall of Fame likely LB Von Miller was dealt by the only team he ever knew, the Denver Broncos, to the Los Angeles Rams for draft picks. Let us dive into the true parameters of this deal, what it means to both organizations, and who got the better end of the trade.

Trade Details

Like most Ram trades lately, they will be giving up a couple of draft picks in next year’s draft, which is similar to the Jalen Ramsey and Matthew Stafford trades. QB Jared Goff was the only notable player traded between those two deals, with the rest being draft picks or financial compensation. The Rams will only receiver Miller in the deal, while the Broncos will be getting two second-day draft picks, more specifically a second rounder and a third rounder from Los Angeles. On the financial side of it, the Rams will only have to pay 700K of Miller’s remaining salary. The other $9M will be paid by the Broncos.

Denver Broncos

Before we get to the player part of the deal, let us all acknowledge that the Broncos did very well in this deal. Even though they are 4-4, Denver does not look like a team that is going to be in the playoff mix by the end of the season, so trading Miller, who was probably going to leave in the offseason anyway, makes sense. Paying his salary this year helped the Broncos get two quality draft picks, which can be used as they start to retool their roster with younger talent. On the emotional side of it, it is a bittersweet day for both the Broncos, as well as for Miller. Miller is the franchise leader in sacks with 110.5, while also helping the Broncos win Super Bowl 50. He forced two fumbles and recorded 2.5 sacks on his way to Super Bowl MVP that year. Emotions aside though, the deal needed to be made and was a good one for Denver.

Los Angeles Rams

As the Rams have proved in the past, they are in it to win it and are doing whatever it takes to win the Super Bowl as soon as this year. The Rams went truly all in when they made the blockbuster trade for QB Matthew Stafford, who looks like an MVP candidate right now and has been worth every draft pick they gave up. With this deal, Miller will not be asked to do what Stafford has done but can be a valuable rotational piece with playoff experience. Even though Miller is not the player he once was, he is still dangerous and with guys like Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd around him, he can be even more effective. The Rams window to win the Super Bowl is open and adding Miller has only helped that case.

Who Won the Deal?

Like most deals that include draft picks, it is tough to tell who wins a deal. It is easy to say both sides won the deal, but for now, I would say the Rams won the deal. The Broncos did well with their draft picks and put themselves in a good position to regroup and retool as an organization fast, but the Rams were already Super Bowl contenders and just made those chances even better. Winning a Super Bowl is the ultimate goal, so if they can get that done, they easily win the trade.

Stats from profootballreference.com

Trade details from cbssports.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas