Oakland Raiders didn’t want to let wide receiver Amari Cooper go for anything less than a first-round draft pick, and they ended up getting just that. Raiders’ general manager Reggie McKenzie announced on Monday that Cooper was traded to Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2019 first rounder.
“I got a call from [Cowboys vice president] Stephen Jones this morning, he put it on the table, what he wanted to do, and he wanted the player, and he gave me the pick, and that’s what it came down to,” – McKenzie told reporters.
With this trade, Oakland Raiders have got back what they invested into Amari Cooper in the first place, considering they have taken him fourth overall in 2015 draft. Cooper started his NFL career with two consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and 1,000+ yards seasons, but he was largely inconsistent in the past couple of years, which encouraged the rebuilding Raiders to move on from him.
Oakland is stockpiling draft picks for the future and already has five first round pick in 2019 and 2020, which should enable newly-appointed head coach Jon Gruden to construct the team the way he wants.
“I hate to see good players go, but I was on the practice field when Reggie came to me and said the Cowboys would do this for a No. 1 and I said, ‘Let’s do it,'” – said Gruden. “We’re going to try to build this thing the right way. We now have five No. 1 picks in the next two years, so I’m excited about that.“
While some would regard the first round pick as an overpay for Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys don’t mind since they didn’t have a primary wide receiver since moving on from Dez Bryant in the offseason. Their leading receiver is Cole Beasley with 33 receptions and 350 yards, while no other Dallas’ wideout has more than 13 receptions. With Cooper, the Cowboys should finally have their passing game sorted out and maybe even make a run for the playoffs.
