Redskins tried, but failed to lure Amari Cooper from Cowboys with offer of ‘significantly more money’

The Washington Redskins will have to contend with Amari Cooper for another five years, as the talented wide receiver re-signed with the Dallas Cowboys for $100 million. However, the Redskins made a push to pry away Cooper from their NFC East rivals, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Here’s a twist: the Washington Redskins pursued Amari Cooper today and tried to pry him away. Dallas prevailed. https://t.co/DNuD48VV0B

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2020

According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, the Redskins made an of “significantly more money” than the Cowboys signed Cooper at.

Cowboys WR Amari Cooper turned down “significantly” more money from Redskins to remain in Dallas with hopes to win Super Bowl here, source said tonight. Dallas is where he wanted to be. He’s coming back on a five-year, $100 million contract.

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 17, 2020

The Redskins were linked to Cooper since ESPN’s John Keim broke on his podcast, Alabama players on Washington’s roster were making a big push to Cooper to join them in burgundy and gold.

That push most have been significant enough to have Cooper intrigued down to the eleventh hour. Unfortunately, the Cowboys met Cooper at a number pleasing enough even if it was less than what their rivals offered.

Cooper had vowed last week he wanted to be a “Cowboy for life.”

If there is any solace for the Redskins missing out on Cooper is the fact they got Dallas pay probably more than they initially wanted to keep him from the NFC East rival. The Cowboys have been salvaging salary cap space to bring back as many of their free agents as possible.

Earlier Monday, they placed an exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott. Then lost out on cornerback Byron Jones, who signed a mega five-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.

With Prescott tagged, the Cowboys set their sights on retaining Cooper and ultimately prevailed over the Redskins.

Meanwhile for the Redskins, they will have to regroup. They missed out on tight end target Austin Hooper, who signed with the Cleveland Browns. Then, the Redskins lost left guard Ereck Flowers to the Dolphins to a three-year, $30 million deal after being unable to convince him to re-sign with them for $8 million per year.

The Redskins actually wanted Amari Cooper from what I'm told. Regardless, they seemed to have done a brilliant job at driving his pricetag up. Forced the Cowboys to spend more than they would have had to otherwise.

Well done by Washington's newly-assembled front office.

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) March 17, 2020

It’s clear the Redskins want to add a capable wide receiver to play opposite of last year’s rookie sensation Terry McLaurin. Cooper won’t be the answer and now they will have to reshuffle the deck on a position that saw two of the best — DeAndre Hopkins and Stefon Diggs — got traded on the first day of the league’s legal tampering period.