3 Free agents Dallas Cowboys have to retain in 2020
By Randy Gurzi
3. Randall Cobb, Wide Receiver
Amari Cooper was the Cowboys No. 1 wide receiver In 2019 and he enters free agency. Like Dak Prescott, the front office has said they want to retain him but have not made significant progress in doing so. Cooper, for what it’s worth, also wants to return but at this point, it could be up to whoever comes in as the next head coach.
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Should someone come in who believes their scheme can elevate wideouts, they may decide against given Cooper the big money. The fact that Michael Gallup made such huge strides during the season could help in that regard as well.
Gallup, who missed three games due to knee surgery, finished with 66 receptions for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns. Compare that to Cooper, who had 79 catches for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games, and a case could be made to roll with No. 13 going forward and save nearly $18 million per season.
Whatever they decide in that regard, they need to try and bring back Randall Cobb. After losing Cole Beasley to free agency, Dallas landed Cobb on a one-year, $5 million deal. He showed great rapport with Prescott and finished with two strong games against NFC East opponents.
In all, Cobb had 55 catches for 828 yards and three touchdowns. Most importantly, 41 of his receptions went for first downs and had a catch percentage of 66.3 percent. His role as a safety valve cannot be understated and he needs to be brought back, even if for just one more season. But they can’t let him go without another replacement in the slot — that role is just too valuable.