NFL teams can improve themselves through the draft, free agency or trades. The draft provides a team with its foundation. Players taken in the first through three rounds need to be walk in starters. They need to start immediately. Players taken in rounds 4 through 7 can become rotational players or special teams players.
Teams have to manage their salary cap in order to be able to re sign their best players or sign players from another team. Free agents are sometimes paid for what they have done, rather than for what they will do. Free agents often do not live up their billing. However, the right free agent can often a make a difference for the right team or for a team on the cusp of a championship.
Rarely do teams make trades. The salary cap and the fact that teams only play 16 games makes it difficult to acquire players in the middle of the year. It often takes a while to bring a player up to speed on a new team. It takes time for players to adjust to new offensive systems or defensive schemes.
Recently the Dallas Cowboys traded a first round pick or the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Amari Cooper. Some believe that the Cowboys should not have given up a first round pick, while others believe that Cooper is worth a first round selection.
Entering this season, the Cowboys were unable to sign a number one receiver. They made an offer for Sammy Watkins, but Watkins chose to sign with Kansas City instead. They were able to sign Allen Hurns an Deonte Thompson, who are decent receivers, but not real difference makers.
The Cowboys decided to part ways with Dez Bryant, who had spent 8 years with the team. Although, Bryant was being paid like a number one receiver, he was no longer playing like one. Bryant was still the team’s best receiver, but was no longer worth the salary he was receiving.So, Dallas decided to move on.
Cooper is a true number one receiver. In his first three and half seasons, he has two 1,000yard seasons. He has made the pro bowl twice so far. He is so one who defenses will have to account for.
At 24 years of age, he is only 6 months older than rookie receiver Calvin Ridley.chancesa re Dallas would have drafted a receiver in the first round. Cooper is as good as or better than someone the Cowboys would have drafted. So, while it’s tough trading. A first round pick, Cooper may be the equivalent of a first round selection.
Cooper will immediately help the offense. He may demand a double team, which should present Cole Beasley with more opportunities in the slot. It also may give more opportunities to Michael Gallup on the outside.
Additionally, Cooper’s presence may help the running game. Instead of keeping an extra man at the line of scrimmage to stop Ezekiel Elliott, teams may have to move a safety over to double team Cooper. So, cooper should have a positive effect upon other members of the offense.
Cooper is under contract for next year as well. So, the Cowboys have a year and a half to decide whether or not they want to resign him. They have a year and a half to see if he can help for the long haul.
Cooper’s presence on the team also allows the Cowboys to further evaluate quarterback Dak Prescott. They can see if he can be a franchise quarterback. Since Prescott's impressive rookie season, he has went 12-11 as a starter. In a quarterback driven league, Prescott struggles to throw for more than 200 yards. A quarterback cannot be evaluated on statistics alone, however, passing yards can be an indication of a quarterback's ability to move the team down the field. If Prescott cannot move the Cowboys down the field better after the trade for Cooper, then the Cowboys must face the possibility that he is not the long term answer at the quarterback position.
Cooper should also help Ezekiel Elliott and the running game. If Cooper can draw the double team, then defenses will not be able to keep an extra man in the box to try and stop the Cowboys' running game. This could strengthen the Cowboys' running game.
The Cowboys have made trades for receivers in the past that have not worked out. Dallas gave up draft picks for Joey Galloway in 2000 and they gave up draft picks for Roy Williams in 2008. Galloway got injured in the first game that he played for Dallas. Williams simply was not as good as he had been with the Detroit Lions. Galloway was 29 and Williams was 27. However, Cooper is only 24 and could return to the pro bowl form that he displayed with Oakland in his first two seasons.
This trade makes sense for the Cowboys. Even though they are only 3-4, the NFC East is winnable. Their defense is playing well, and they have a good running game. They have a young quarterback with potential, who should benefit from a true number one receiver. The Cowboys would have likely drafted a wide receiver in the first round in the off season anyway, so this trade makes sense and helps the team immediately.
The trade gives the Cowboys hope for the rest of the season. The trade gives them a fighting chance to make the playoffs.
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