Even though players can’t officially sign and join new organizations until Wednesday, March 18 when the new league year officially begins, the legal tampering period kicked off Monday at noon. During that legal tampering period, players can agree to terms with new teams.
With that, we’ve gotten a ton of player news on the first day with a number of wideouts trading teams in DeAndre Hopkins and Stefon Diggs, but one major free agent wideout is staying put for the foreseeable future…
Amari Cooper intends to re-sign with the Dallas Cowboys on a 5-year, $100 million deal, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2020
Amari Cooper Career Stats
| Year | Team | Age | Gm | Tgt/Gm | Rec/Gm | ReYd/Gm | Yd/Rec | TD | PPR/Gm | PPG Rk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | OAK | 21 | 16 | 8.1 | 4.5 | 66.9 | 14.9 | 6 | 13.3 | 28 |
| 2016 | OAK | 22 | 16 | 8.3 | 5.2 | 72.1 | 13.9 | 5 | 14.5 | 15 |
| 2017 | OAK | 23 | 14 | 6.9 | 3.4 | 48.6 | 14.2 | 7 | 11.3 | 34 |
| 2018 | OAK | 24 | 6 | 5.2 | 3.7 | 46.7 | 12.7 | 1 | 9.5 | 55 |
| 2018 | DAL | 25 | 9 | 8.4 | 5.9 | 80.6 | 13.7 | 6 | 17.6 | 12 |
| 2019 | DAL | 25 | 16 | 7.4 | 4.9 | 74.3 | 15.1 | 8 | 15.4 | 15 |
After fading over his rookie contract with the Raiders, Cooper was rejuvenated by a 2018 midseason trade to Dallas. Through 25 games with the Cowboys, Cooper is averaging 5.3 catches for 76.5 yards and 0.6 touchdowns per game (16.2 PPR PPG). Outside of a 680-yard 2017 campaign, Cooper has posted 1,000 yards in four of his first five seasons in the league.
With Cooper playing the best football of his early career with the Cowboys, staying in Dallas was not just important for him, however. With the Cowboys also placing the franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott today, the marriage of Cooper and Prescott remains intact. Cooper’s trade to Dallas not only ignited his own output, but also Prescott’s.
| Dak Prescott | Games | Comp% | PaYd/Gm | PaTD% | FF PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| With Amari | 25 | 67.20% | 294.7 | 4.90% | 20.5 |
| Without Amari | 39 | 64.50% | 215.6 | 4.50% | 16.9 |
Retaining both players solidifies Cooper’s status as a top-15 wideout and Prescott’s status as a top-six pick among the quarterback position heading into 2020 drafts.
More Fantasy Fallout from the Free Agency Period
DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona Cardinals
David Johnson to Houston Texans
Hayden Hurst to Atlanta Falcons
Austin Hooper to Cleveland Browns
Ryan Tannehill Re-Signs with Tennessee Titans
Teddy Bridgewater Replaces Cam Newton in Carolina
Philip Rivers Signs With Indianapolis Colts
