From pursuing Cooper Kupp to signing Parris Campbell: Same old Cowboys

Just yesterday, the Dallas Cowboys were reported to be pushing hard to sign wide receiver Cooper Kupp in free agency. In a matter of hours, it was reported that they were not considered top contenders to get the deal done. 24 hours later, and Kupp has signed with the Seattle Seahawks while the Cowboys have signed receiver Parris Campbell to a one-year deal.

Same old Cowboys in free agency

Cooper Kupp may not be the same player he was in 2021, but even at one of his lower points and with injuries, he was able to put up decent numbers with the Los Angeles Rams last season. For that, he was demanding between $14-15 million a year, a price the Cowboys surely would not be willing to pay.

Instead, they let him slip away and signed Parris Campbell, who played five regular season games for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, bouncing between the practice squad and active roster. He recorded six catches for a career-low 30 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Whereas Kupp would’ve been another weapon alongside Cowboys WR1 CeeDee Lamb, Campbell will play more of a depth role, while costing them much less, naturally.

This is typical for the Cowboys. They say they want to win a Super Bowl, but aren’t willing to pay the players who could help get them there. They did re-sign some of their better players like defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and wide receiver/special teams ace KaVontae Turpin. They also restructured the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott and Lamb to open up more cap space.

But, then they let cornerback Jourdan Lewis, running back Rico Dowdle, and edge rusher Chauncey Golston walk in free agency. Lewis actually opened up on how he feels more valued now that he’s with a new team (Jacksonville Jaguars) that is willing to pay him what he’s worth after an outstanding 2024 season in Dallas.

But their free agency moves are all cheap, for lack of a better word. Most are on one-year deals and being paid $4 million a year or less. In fact, their recent one-year, $8 million signing of edge rusher Dante Fowler is the first time the Cowboys have spent $6 million or more in free agency in 10 years, the last time being in 2015 when they signed edge rusher Greg Hardy.

It’s been nearly 30 years since the Cowboys won a Super Bowl, but it seems they’re unwilling to change their free agency strategy.

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