Could Eagles be a landing spot for Amari Cooper?

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The NFL offseason is now here for all 32 teams, and with it, the speculation on which premier free agents will be landing where as officially started. 

And as usual, the Eagles are being linked to some of the best talent expected to be available. 

In a recent piece for NFL.com, former NFL quarterback David Carr listed his top potential destinations for wide receiver Amari Cooper. Carr had Cooper’s current team, the Dallas Cowboys, at the top of the list. 

Coming in at No. 2? The Philadelphia Eagles. 

Carr writes: 

I don't see Jerry Jones breaking the bank for Cooper, and if Dallas' offer isn't up to his standard, it will only take one team to put big money on the table for Cooper to leave. It wouldn't surprise me if Eagles general manager Howie Roseman came calling. There's no doubt Cooper could help this offense, which was extremely thin at the wide receiver position last season, with injuries plaguing nearly every starter. Cooper's production doesn't always match his crazy ability, but I believe he'd do well paired with a player like Alshon Jeffery. Cooper wouldn't draw all of the attention, and he wouldn't have to be "the guy" for the Eagles. Plus, he'd have a field day facing the Cowboys' secondary twice a year.

Carr’s points are good ones. The Cowboys might not have the money to re-sign Cooper if they bring back Dak Prescott. The Eagles are thin at wide receiver and are projected to have $44 million in cap space this offseason. 

Cooper makes sense for the Eagles for obvious reasons. The team has a need at receiver, and at 25-years old, Cooper is not only one of the best receivers in the league, but he is young as well. Landing Cooper would not only give the Eagles the No. 1 receiver they have been looking to pair with Carson Wentz, but it would also take one away from the Cowboys. 

There is also a history between the Eagles and Cooper. In 2018, prior to trading a third-round pick for Golden Tate, the Eagles reportedly offered a second-round pick to the Oakland Raiders to try to land Cooper. Although he ended up going to Dallas fo a first-round pick, an offer of a second-round pick is a clear sign they had plenty of interest in not only bringing in Cooper, but also making him a big-part of the franchise — and likely giving him an expensive new extension as well. 

It is possible things could have changed since then. The Eagles not only signed two veteran receivers — DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery — to contract extensions, but they also used a second-round pick on receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. The 2020 NFL Draft being loaded at receiver could also sway them away from Cooper. With Cooper expected to land a deal worth around $15 million a year — if not more — the Eagles could decide drafting a receiver is a better use of their resources.

The draft, however, is after free agency. Meaning if the Eagles pass on Cooper, and plan to address their need at receiver through the draft, they could end up empty-handed if things don’t break their way on draft night. 

Add everything up, and the decision on whether to make a serious run at Cooper if he does become a free agent is going to be a tough one for the Eagles. 

You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!