The Seattle Seahawks signed wide receiver Cooper Kupp shortly after free agency began last week. The move made sense given Kupp’s personal ties to Washington. However, the Seahawks were not his only option, as the Dallas Cowboys were also among the teams that expressed interest in the veteran pass catcher.
Cowboys stars Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb reportedly wanted Kupp in Dallas, recruiting the former Super Bowl MVP. While it seemed like a good fit given the Cowboys’ need for a WR2, the talks eventually stalled once Cowboys owner Jerry Jones got involved.
Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Balked at Cooper Kupp’s Asking Price After Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb Recruitment
On a recent episode of his podcast, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that Lamb and Prescott called Kupp about the possibility of joining the Cowboys. However, talks went south once the financials came into play.
“Last Thursday, the Cowboys reached out about Cooper Kupp and they were interested,” Schefter said, as transcribed by Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr.
“Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, who I understand it, were on the phone with Cooper Kupp talking to him about the idea of coming to Dallas, and it was floated out there. And then the Cowboys heard the numbers, and they were at numbers that the Cowboys weren’t going to get to.”
Per @AdamSchefter, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb called to recruit Cooper Kupp to the Cowboys:
"Last Thursday, the Cowboys reached out about Cooper Kupp and they were interested," Schefter said on his podcast. "Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, who I understand it,…— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr)
In the end, Kupp signed with his hometown Seahawks, receiving a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency. This works out to a salary of $15 million per season for the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year.
The Cowboys did end up adding to their offense in free agency, by overhauling their run game with the signings of Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams.
As for receiver, the Cowboys signed veteran receiver Parris Campbell — a former second-round pick who played just five games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, catching six passes for 30 yards and a touchdown. While this is a low-risk signing, Dallas has yet to fill their void at WR2.
The depth behind Lamb is a question mark heading into April’s 2025 NFL Draft, and Lamb himself has made it clear that he wants the Cowboys to upgrade his WR running mate.
Lamb Publicly Pressuring Dallas To Draft a WR2
The Cowboys’ passing game struggled last season, ranking 21st in scoring. This was largely due to a lack of reliable weapons beyond Lamb. Jalen Tolbert was the team’s second-leading receiver with just 610 yards, while KaVontae Turpin followed with 420 yards.
Thus, Dallas could benefit from adding a dynamic rookie from the 2025 NFL Draft, and Lamb recently said he wants a WR2 who can complement him.
“Just looking for a great complement,” Lamb told RG. “I’m not really pressed about having whoever. It doesn’t matter, as long as you come here ready to work, I’m excited to teach you, excited to work and just gradually gravitate towards instilling you in this offense. It’s gonna be fun with whoever.”
Lamb even brought up several of the wide receivers in this draft class and shared his thoughts on them.
“I like a lot of them actually,” Lamb said. “There’s a bunch of pieces that stood out. I like T-Mac [Tetairoa McMillan] from Arizona, for one. I like Luther [Burden III] from Missouri. The list could go on. I like Emeka [Egbuka] from Ohio State and Tez Johnson [from Oregon]. …
“It doesn’t matter which one. I’m excited for whoever we incorporate in his team and this offense. Let’s do it.”
With the Cowboys failing to add Kupp, the remaining receivers available in free agency are veteran options like Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, and Amari Cooper, among others.
If these wideouts don’t interest Dallas, their best bet is drafting a WR, as Lamb has suggested.
Jerry Jones is not my cup of tea go dak n cdlamb love you #88