When you look at the landscape of the NFC East over the last decade, few moves shifted the gravity of the division quite like the moment the Dallas Cowboys decided to trade a first-round pick for Amari Cooper. Fans still debate it. Critics still argue about the price tag. But for anyone asking, did Amari Cooper sign with the Cowboys, the answer is a bit more layered than a simple "yes" or "no." He didn't just sign there once; he was traded there, revitalized an entire offense, and then signed one of the most significant contracts in the franchise’s recent history before eventually being shipped off to Cleveland.
It was 2018. The Cowboys were struggling. Dak Prescott looked like he was throwing into windows the size of postage stamps because his receivers couldn't get open. Then, the trade happened. Dallas sent a 2019 first-round selection to the Oakland Raiders. People lost their minds. "A first-rounder for a guy who's been inconsistent?" they asked. But Cooper arrived and immediately caught 53 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns in just nine games. He saved their season.
The Massive Deal: When Amari Cooper Finally Put Pen to Paper
After that initial trade, Cooper was playing on his rookie fifth-year option. He wasn't technically "signed" to a long-term Dallas deal yet. He was a rental with high expectations. As 2020 approached, the tension in Frisco was palpable. Dak needed his WR1. The fans wanted a star. Jerry Jones, never one to shy away from a big checkbook, finally made it official.
In March 2020, Amari Cooper signed a massive five-year, $100 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys.
This wasn't just some middle-of-the-road deal. It included $60 million in total guarantees. At the time, it made him one of the highest-paid wideouts in the league. Honestly, it was a statement. The Cowboys were saying that Cooper was the cornerstone. He chose Dallas over a significant offer from the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders), reportedly turning down more money to stay with Dak and the star on the helmet. That’s a detail people often forget—he actually walked away from more "guaranteed" cash elsewhere because he felt the fit in Dallas was better for his career.
Breaking Down the 100 Million Dollar Question
The contract was structured in a way that gave Dallas an "out" after two years, which is exactly what they ended up using later. But during those peak years, Cooper was a technician. His route running? Elite. He made cornerbacks look like they were wearing skates on grass.
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- Year One (2018): 725 yards (9 games)
- Year Two (2019): 1,189 yards, 8 TDs
- Year Three (2020): 1,114 yards, 5 TDs (with a backup QB for much of it!)
- Year Four (2021): 865 yards, 8 TDs
If you look at those numbers, he was consistent. He was the security blanket. Yet, the relationship started to fray toward the end of the 2021 season. There were whispers about his availability. There were questions about his salary cap hit versus his production in big games.
Why the Cowboys Moved On (The 2022 Trade)
Football is a cold business. By the spring of 2022, the Cowboys were staring at a $20 million salary for Cooper. They had CeeDee Lamb waiting in the wings, ready to take the WR1 mantle. They had a cap crunch. So, instead of keeping the man they signed to that $100 million deal, they traded him to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-rounders.
The return was pennies on the dollar.
Fans were livid. How do you go from giving up a first-round pick and $100 million to dumping a guy for a fifth-rounder? Well, the Cowboys wanted that cap space. They wanted to move in a younger, cheaper direction. It’s one of those moves that defines the Jerry Jones era: high risk, high reward, and occasionally, a very abrupt exit.
The Misconception About "Signing" vs. "Trading"
A lot of people get confused and ask if he signed as a free agent. Technically, he only signed one actual contract with Dallas—that 2020 extension. Every other time he moved, it was via trade.
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- October 2018: Traded from Raiders to Cowboys.
- March 2020: Signed 5-year extension with Cowboys.
- March 2022: Traded from Cowboys to Browns.
- October 2024: Traded from Browns to Bills.
It’s a nomadic career for a guy who is arguably one of the best pure route runners of his generation. When he was in Dallas, he was the guy. He was the reason Dak Prescott's completion percentage spiked. He was the reason the Cowboys won the NFC East in 2018 and 2021.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes?
There’s always more to the story than just the "did Amari Cooper sign with the Cowboys" question. Inside the building at The Star, there were concerns about Cooper’s foot injuries. He played through a lot of pain. Sometimes he'd disappear for stretches, and the coaching staff—specifically Mike McCarthy toward the end—seemed to want more "fire."
Cooper is quiet. He’s a chess player. He doesn't scream at his quarterback. Some people in the Cowboys organization mistook that quietness for a lack of passion. Was it fair? Probably not. But when you’re making $20 million a year in Dallas, you’re expected to be a vocal leader and a game-breaker every single Sunday.
When he didn't get a single target in the first half of some games, the frustration boiled over. Not from Cooper, but from the front office. They felt the "value" wasn't there anymore.
Looking Back: Was the Signing a Success?
If you ask me, yes. Absolutely.
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Before Cooper arrived, the Cowboys' wide receiver room was headlined by Allen Hurns and a declining Cole Beasley. They were 3-4 and heading nowhere fast. Cooper’s arrival changed the geometry of the field. He opened up lanes for Ezekiel Elliott. He gave Dak the confidence to throw deep. Without that 2020 signing, the Cowboys' offense likely would have stagnated during Dak's prime years.
Compare that to the 2022 season after he left. The Cowboys struggled mightily to find a consistent #2 receiver opposite CeeDee Lamb until they eventually traded for Brandin Cooks. They spent a year trying to replace Cooper’s production and realized it wasn't that easy to find a guy who could beat press coverage on every single snap.
Current Status and Legacy
As of early 2026, Amari Cooper's time in Dallas is a nostalgic chapter for many fans. He's moved on to the Buffalo Bills (after a stint in Cleveland), proving he still has the hands and the footwork to compete at a high level. But when historians look back at the "Dak Era" in Dallas, the Cooper years will be highlighted as the time when the offense truly became explosive.
He didn't just sign a contract. He changed the culture of the offense.
He proved that Dallas was willing to be aggressive. Even though it ended with a somewhat unceremonious trade to Cleveland, the impact of his five-year deal remains one of the most significant financial commitments the Cowboys have made to a skill position player not named Elliott or Prescott.
Takeaways for the Dedicated Fan
If you're tracking Cooper's career or wondering why the Cowboys' current roster looks the way it does, remember these key points:
- Contracts aren't forever. Even a $100 million deal can be moved if the cap hit becomes too heavy.
- Scheme fit matters. Cooper excelled in Dallas because their timing-based offense suited his precise route running.
- Draft capital is a gamble. Dallas gave up a first-round pick for him, which many still argue was the "right" move even if he left four years later.
- Availability is the best ability. The Cowboys' decision to move on was largely fueled by concerns over his long-term health and his salary-to-production ratio.
To stay ahead of the curve on NFL roster moves, always look at the "guaranteed money" in a contract rather than the headline number. That’s where the real truth of a player’s future lies. For Amari, that $60 million guarantee was the real story—it bought the Cowboys three seasons of elite play before they decided to reset the market. Keep an eye on the Bills' current cap situation to see if history repeats itself with his latest team; veteran receivers with high cap hits are always the first on the chopping block when a team needs to find room for younger talent.