Amari Cooper is going to be a Cowboy, but was he worth a first-round pick?

The breaking news this Monday is that the Dallas Cowboys have traded their 2019 first-round draft pick for Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper:

The move comes at a point of critical mass for Dallas, as the last two weeks have seen better play from Dak Prescott but it has become clear that Cole Beasley is the only receiver they can routinely count on. Allen Hurns was good against Washington but has been nonexistent in most games, Michael Gallup is showing promise but still developing, and Deonte Thompson, well... he hasn’t been good.

The former fourth overall pick from Alabama has had his ups and downs. He had over 1,000 receiving yards and at least five touchdowns each of his first two years in the league, but fell off last year with under 700 yards. He did set a career best with seven touchdowns, though. So far this year, he’s catching a career best 68.8% of his targets for 280 yards - averaging career lows of 12.7 yards per catch and 46.7 yards per game - and has just one touchdown.

Many attribute this drop in production to the fact the Raiders were a terrible football team last year and still are this year. Blocking hasn’t been good for Derek Carr recently and Cooper’s production seems to have suffered as a result. Through his first two years, though, Cooper looked like he was on his way to becoming one of the top receiving talents in the league.

The question here is what version of Amari Cooper the Cowboys will get. The offense certainly needs better playmakers for Dak to throw to, especially with Tavon Austin being sidelined. If the change in scenery can revive Cooper’s career, then it could also revive this passing offense and result in more games like the one against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Of course, there will be many concerns about giving up too much for him, as first-round picks are especially valuable. And for a team that has drafted well in the first round recently, those picks are even more valuable. If the Cowboys end up with a record right around .500, which they’re currently on track for, then a first-round pick in the teens range would be very valuable.

However, if Cooper does end up becoming the player he once looked to be, and this offense takes off and manages to make the playoffs, then it’s a late first-round pick the Cowboys are giving up, which most fans will probably live with if it means making the postseason.

In reality, it’s far too early to judge this trade. Even after the Cowboys’ next game, it’ll be too early to judge. For right now, it seems as if the Cowboys gave up too much, but Cooper could very well justify all of this with his play and earn himself a contract extension going forward.

What do you think?