No, the Dallas Cowboys are no longer financially obligated to Amari Cooper.
The Cowboys' Financial Standing with Amari Cooper
The Dallas Cowboys parted ways with wide receiver Amari Cooper in 2022. At the time of his departure, Cooper still had three years remaining on his contract. However, the critical detail regarding Dallas's financial responsibility was that all of the guaranteed money on his deal was already off the books for the Cowboys. This meant that once they traded him, they had no further financial obligations related to his contract.
The decision to move on from Cooper was made after two seasons, as the franchise determined where to focus its financial investments.
Here's a quick summary of the situation at the time of his departure:
| Contract Status Upon Parting Ways | Cowboys' Financial Obligation |
|---|---|
| 3 years remaining on his deal | All guaranteed money off the books |
For more context on the front office's decision, you can refer to discussions regarding the Dallas Cowboys front office criticisms over Amari Cooper trade need context.
Why Dallas is No Longer Paying Amari Cooper
In the National Football League (NFL), contracts often include both guaranteed and non-guaranteed money. Guaranteed money is the portion of a player's contract that a team is obligated to pay, regardless of whether the player is cut, traded, or injured. Once a player is released or traded and all guaranteed portions of their contract have been paid out or accounted for, the former team typically incurs no further financial burden.
Since all of Amari Cooper's guaranteed money was no longer an obligation for the Cowboys when they parted ways with him in 2022, they ceased any payments to him. Cooper was subsequently traded to the Cleveland Browns, who then assumed responsibility for his remaining non-guaranteed salary and any new financial agreements.
