The Kansas City Chiefs have to like the way this wide receiver market is shaping up, and it’s only looking sweeter with the news that the Dallas Cowboys are set to release Amari Cooper.
ESPN reporter Adam Schefter broke the news on Friday that the Cowboys were “likely” going to release Cooper in the coming days in order to avoid paying him guaranteed money at the start of the new league year that totals $20 million. The Cowboys have significant cap moves to make with the likes of Michael Gallup, Demarcus Lawrence, and others hitting the market.
Two things are important to note here. First, Schefter’s tweet was a simple rumor. Teams often pull these stunts when they want to create a quick trade frenzy for teams to step up their offers before having to release someone. This sort of news could make the likes of the Jacksonville Jaguars or someone else with a major need and loads of cash to go ahead and just trade for Cooper with his current deal.
Second, it’s also important to note, from the Chiefs’ perspective, that it’s not necessarily about Cooper specifically. Now don’t get me wrong: Cooper is a very nice wideout. He could easily carry the load for any team at the position as a well-rounded player with deep speed, excellent hands, and smooth routes. But for the Chiefs, it’s not about getting Cooper. It’s simply about crowding the market even more than it is now.
The Kansas City Chiefs have to like the way this offseason is shaping up at wide receiver.
The Chiefs could have multiple needs at wide receiver, depending on how full or empty you view the glass. Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs have had “positive talks” on a new contract extension, so there’s already a player capable of carrying the load. From there, however, it’s thin and short-term at that.
Mecole Hardman looked much better near the end of his third season, but he’s going to be hitting his contract year in 2022. Demarcus Robinson is scheduled to hit free agency. The same for Byron Pringle. While tight end Travis Kelce‘s presence must be factored into any overview of receivers for the Chiefs, even he is well into his thirties, despite remaining dominant at his position.
Even with the offensive pillars in place in K.C., the team has been seeking help with a physical receiver for a full year. They signed Josh Gordon last season but he didn’t contribute anything meaningful. The team also chased JuJu Smith-Schuster and Josh Reynolds in free agency and came away with nothing.
This is how we arrive at multiple needs. The Chiefs have a need for a second wideout, another physical target who can reliably create separation as a veteran and perhaps Smith-Schuster will come around when courted again. The rumors are already there. However, the Chiefs also lack any real youthful investment at a position in which the last two draft classes have been ultra-rich. Fortunately, this year is more of the same.
With the news that Cooper could be joining the free-agent pool, things only look that much better for a team like the Chiefs. It’s another veteran to take up space, to occupy the cap room of a rival team, to fill a need. Whether the Chiefs want him or not, Cooper will go to someone and remove someone out of the free-agent equation in the process. And if general manager Brett Veach likes Cooper as a player, then that’s even better.
That pairs very well with the draft class that’s already deep. This means the Chiefs should be able to find someone to play that WR2 role next season and invest in someone who is going to be around for the long haul with Patrick Mahomes.
Whether or not the Chiefs are “in” on Amari Cooper doesn’t matter. The potential availability is already a win for the Chiefs.