The Dallas Cowboys came this close to landing a game-changer for their offense, but it turns out even Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb’s star power couldn’t seal the deal. After the Los Angeles Rams released Cooper Kupp earlier this month, the former Super Bowl MVP and 2021 Offensive Player of the Year was a hot commodity in free agency. The 31-year-old wideout ended up signing a three-year, $45 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks on March 14, staying in the NFC West. But before he inked that contract, Prescott and Lamb made a hard push to bring him to Dallas—and the Cowboys’ front office just couldn’t make the numbers work.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped the scoop on his podcast, revealing that the Cowboys’ dynamic duo got on the phone with Kupp to pitch him on joining the team. “Last Thursday, the Cowboys reached out about Cooper Kupp and they were interested,” Schefter said. “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.” It sounded like a dream scenario—Kupp, a savvy route-runner with a knack for big plays, lining up opposite Lamb to give Prescott the kind of one-two punch Dallas has been missing. But then came the catch: “They heard the numbers, and they were at numbers that the Cowboys weren’t going to get to.” Kupp’s asking price—reportedly around $15 million a year—was too steep for Jerry Jones and the front office, who’ve been notoriously cautious with big free-agent spending.
The Cowboys have been desperate for a legit No. 2 receiver to complement Lamb ever since they traded Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns in 2022. They’ve tried to fill the void, but Michael Gallup couldn’t stay healthy, Brandin Cooks—acquired in 2023—never meshed with Prescott, and 2022 third-rounder Jalen Tolbert hasn’t quite broken out. Kupp would’ve been a perfect fit, with his ability to play both outside and in the slot, not to mention his history with Cowboys receivers coach Junior Adams from their Eastern Washington days. Fans were dreaming of Kupp snagging passes from Prescott while Lamb drew double teams, but Dallas’ reluctance to pay up sent Kupp to Seattle instead, where he’ll now team up with a revamped Seahawks squad that also added DeMarcus Lawrence this offseason.
For Cowboys fans, it’s a familiar frustration—another missed opportunity to bolster an offense that needs all the help it can get. Dallas did restructure Prescott and Lamb’s contracts earlier this month, freeing up over $57 million in cap space, but they’ve yet to make a splashy move in free agency. With Kupp off the board, the Cowboys might turn to the draft or a cheaper veteran to pair with Lamb. One thing’s clear: Prescott and Lamb are ready to win now, but the front office’s wallet might not be on the same page. As the 2025 season looms, Dallas still has work to do to get back to contender status.
