Running back Ezekiel Elliott played a role in the Dallas Cowboys trading top wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns.
Once the NFL offseason began, there was talk about the Dallas Cowboys moving on from star wide receiver Amari Cooper as a way to free up cap space, who carried a $20 million hit. While there was talk of being released, reports indicated that the Cowboys wanted to see if they can orchestrate a trade with a team interested in Cooper’s services.
On Saturday, the Cowboys traded Cooper and a sixth-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round pick and a sixth-rounder.
The Cowboys did free up the cap space they desired, but they lost their top weapon in the passing game as a result. The move had to be made because of running back Ezekiel Elliott’s albatross of a contract.
Ezekiel Elliott’s contract to blame for Amari Cooper trade
Elliott, whom Dallas selected with the fourth-overall pick in 2016, shined in the beginning of his NFL career. But then, Elliott held out for a new contract in the 2019 offseason. Sure enough, owner Jerry Jones bit to ensure one of the offense’s top weapons at the time was on the roster.
The official deal was a six-year, $90 million contract extension. That contract has since hindered the Cowboys’ spending abilities.
While getting Elliott’s contract off the books would be a good idea at first thought, there is no way Dallas’ front office would be able to do so. Why is that? Well, Elliott carries a $30.8 million dead cap hit. So, that’s why he is on the roster for the 2022 season.
The Cooper trade was not the only move that Dallas made to free up cap space. They also had to release kicker Greg Zuerlein and tight end Blake Jarwin. Not only that, but they are reportedly looking to trade offensive tackle La’el Collins as well.
The Cowboys will now have to find a way to add more weapons in the passing game with Cooper gone. Perhaps the best and most affordable way to do so is by using their first-round pick this year on one of top wide receivers available when they are on the clock.