NFL free agency is in full swing, and the money is flowing — everywhere except in Dallas.
The Cowboys were reportedly interested in adding Cooper Kupp to their wide receiver room after the Super Bowl champion was released by the Los Angeles Rams. However, they backed out after learning his price tag, sending ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith into a rant against owner and general manager Jerry Jones.
Stephen A. Smith Rips Into Cowboys and Jerry Jones for Backing Out of Cooper Kupp Signing
The Cowboys’ offense struggled last season, ranking No. 21 in scoring. A lack of reliable weapons beyond CeeDee Lamb was a key issue.
Jalen Tolbert was the team’s second-leading wide receiver with just 610 yards, while KaVontae Turpin followed with 420 yards. Dallas was in the market for a WR2 and even expressed interest in Kupp before backing out due to his price tag, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Last Thursday, the Cowboys reached out about Cooper Kupp and they were interested,” Schefter said on Wednesday, March 19. “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.”
Kupp ended up signing with his hometown Seahawks, receiving a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency. Meanwhile, 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. However, the WR2 void remains.
Smith didn’t hold back, calling Jones “a cheap spender in free agency” and accusing the Cowboys of always taking the bargain route.
“We always have to go the route of cheap when we’re talking about Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys because right now they ranked 29th in the NFL this offseason in free agent spending,” Smith said.
“Only the Eagles, the Bengals, and the Ravens have spent less, and Philly and Baltimore don’t need to because they’re Super Bowl contenders.”
Smith further blasted the Cowboys over their “ridiculous” moves in free agency, particularly swapping Rico Dowdle for Javonte Williams in the running back room.
“With some of the non-moves that they’ve made — I mean, this year they’ve created about $57 million in cap space. You can’t come up with $6 million for Rico Dowdle, but you could come up with $3 million for Javonte Williams from Denver? Stuff like that. It’s ridiculous.”
The outspoken host also said he had no hope for the franchise, claiming it has misled its fanbase into believing it can compete in the postseason.
“I want them good enough to make noise to get to the postseason and to tease the most disgusting, nauseating fan base in American history into believing they’ve got a chance, just so they could fall flat on their face and I could be in Dallas laughing at them. Unfortunately, it’s not a laughing matter, because they’ve given us nothing to laugh about since they’ve been that sad over the last year. So, they need to get it together.”
However, the Cowboys hold the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and have a real chance at landing one of the top receiving prospects: Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, or Emeka Egbuka.
They are projected to select McMillan in PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft by Jacob Infante.