DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Could the Dallas Cowboys be losing two of their top players before the 2022 season? According to 105.3 The Fan Cowboys insider Bobby Belt, it very well could be possible.
During his Friday visit with Shan & RJ, Belt suggested that the Cowboys could be looking to move on from both wideout Amari Cooper and defensive end, DeMarcus Lawrence.
Lawrence, who played in just seven of the Cowboys 17 regular season games last season, is a $27 million cap hit in 2022, and Belt suggests that Dallas could be looking to either restructure or move on from that deal.
"I think just from talking to some people that this decision from them, they're looking at is as more of a choice," Belt said of the Cowboys stance on Lawrence. "Which direction do they want to go. So I think they're looking at it as, do we want to resign Randy Gregory, or do we want to restructure DeMarcus Lawrence. I don't think they're going to necessarily roll into next season with both guys. I think they view this as, you've got to pick one."
Belt, however, does not believe that Lawrence could end up being the only major cut from the Cowboys this offseason, telling RJ and Zach Wolchuk, that Cooper could be on his way out as well.
"I think (Amari and Tank) are likely to be gone at this moment," said Belt. "I think Cooper and Lawrence both, I don't know if we are looking at June 1 for them or restructures. I think the betting favorite right now would be straight releases for both guys. And that would be $16 million freed up from Cooper, and $8 million freed up from DeMarcus Lawrence."
In the event of a Cooper dismissal, the Cowboys would likely turn to re-sign both Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson, each of whom will be an unrestricted free agent.
And according to Belt, that is the logical plan for the Cowboys to follow.
"I think that would be how the Cowboys approach it," Belt said. "I think that the $16 million they think they could save with Cooper, I think that the cap number for 2022 for Gallup, Wilson, and Malik Turner, I think they believe they could fit inside that $16 million in savings."
Whatever the case, the top of the Cowboys 2022 roster could look rather different by the end of the summer.
And based off of the team's results over the last few seasons, a change in structure might be warranted.
