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

Just hours after QB Aaron Rodgers announced he was sticking with the Green Bay Packers or the next several years, it looked like Denver swung and missed on a position they desperately need. Fast-forward a few hours, and Denver connected for a long, long, home run. After over a year of speculation regarding the Seattle Seahawks and QB Russell Wilson, a move was finally made. In a blockbuster deal, the Broncos acquired the all-pro quarterback, making them legit contenders immediately.

Trade Details

Denver Receives:

• QB Russell Wilson

• 4th Round Pick

Seattle Receives:

• QB Drew Lock

• TE Noah Fant

• DL Shelby Harris

• No. 9 Overall Pick (2022)

• 1st Round Pick (2023)

• Two 2nd Round Picks

• 5th Round Pick

Downfall of Seattle

While parody in the NFL is very real, the cream of the crop usually stays at the top for a long time, especially if you have a star quarterback. Seattle had that for a decade, making multiple Super Bowls, including winning one, as well as multiple winning seasons. They were the cream of the crop until they were not. After the 2020 season, there were rumors swirling around trading Wilson, but nothing ever came to fruition. In 2021, Seattle finished with its worst record with Wilson at QB, making it even more possible that they can trade him. Now, with him traded, it is a full fall from grace and is only the beginning. There are reports that WR Tyler Lockett is now being shopped as well and I would not be surprised if his running mate DK Metcalf was on the market too. It is a full tear-down, but it is going to be a while before Seattle gets back to where they were with Wilson. Whether it is the numerous coordinators that went through there, a failed offensive line, or the infamous Jamal Adams trade and contract that set the franchise back, Seattle has made some questionable decisions over the past few years. Now, going into 2022, they will have either a rookie quarterback or Drew Lock, leaving a major question mark at the most important position on the field. They are staring down the barrel of bad football for the next few years, at least.

Denver is Legit Contenders

Now, on a positive note, let us talk about the Denver Broncos. We hear the term “a quarterback away” a lot in the NFL, but it is not always the case. For the Broncos, however, it truly is that simple, because the rest of their roster is loaded with talent. On the defensive side of the ball, led by star S Justin Simmons and young CB Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos have an elite defense that can win you a few games if needed. Over the past few years though, it could not cancel out the mediocre QB play from Lock and veteran Teddy Bridgewater. With Wilson running an already talented skill group, this offense can take off. The WR trio of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and the underrated Tim Patrick will be good pieces for Wilson to throw too, as well as a rising star at RB in Javonte Williams. Even with TE Noah Fant leaving through the deal, the Broncos are not short on weapons and would not be surprised if they added more through free agency and the draft. This team, which will be led by first-time head coach Nathaniel Hackett, has a chance to win double-digit games and fight for now what is a loaded AFC West.

Loaded AFC West

The underrated part about this move is how loaded the AFC is now at quarterback, specifically the AFC West. The four quarterbacks in that division are Derek Carr (Raiders), Justin Herbert (Chargers), Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), and now Russell Wilson (Broncos). With this trade, this is easily the best division in football on paper and there is a chance all four of these teams have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. The Raiders, who made the playoffs last season, are probably going to open the season projected to finish in last place, which is crazy because they have the quarterback and the roster to win 9 to 10 games. Yes, everyone is still trying to catch the Chiefs, and rightfully so. They have been the class of the division for the past several years, including four straight AFC Championship game appearances, two Super Bowl appearances, and one Super Bowl win in that span. It is going to be a dogfight out west, with every game holding that much more weight now that all four teams have a chance at making the playoffs at worst.

Trade details from cbssports.com

Stats and info from profootballreference.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