Dallas Cowboys trending toward releasing four-time Pro Bowl WR Amari Cooper

INDIANAPOLIS — The Amari Cooper era launched suddenly when the Cowboys dealt a first-round draft pick to acquire the wide receiver at the October 2018 trade deadline.

Three and a half years later, its end could loom near.

The Cowboys are trending toward releasing the four-time Pro Bowler before his $20 million salary becomes guaranteed on March 20, a person with knowledge of the team’s plans confirmed to USA Today Sports on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to publicly disclose the information. Time remains for a shift in negotiations with “nothing determined” fully yet, another person with knowledge confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity given the lack of a formal decision.

But the Cowboys lack sufficient funding to keep all their weapons. Shedding Cooper’s hefty cost would help salary cap compliance.

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Cooper’s tenure in Dallas was productive if at times inconsistent and enigmatic. He competed in 56 games with 54 starts, catching 292 balls for 3,893 yards and 27 touchdowns.

But in 2021, as the Cowboys’ receiving stable deepened, justifying Cooper’s production relative to his cap hit two years into a five-year, $100 million extension became murkier.

Second-year receiver CeeDee Lamb led the Cowboys with 1,102 yards and six touchdowns in 2021. Cooper posted 865 yards and eight touchdowns, missing two games after contracting COVID-19 while unvaccinated. The Cowboys’ viable options continued, tight end Dalton Schultz notching 808 yards and eight touchdowns…