Jerry Jones: CeeDee Lamb is an upgrade over Amari Cooper

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was clearly ready to move on from star wide receiver Amari Cooper. 

Shortly after Dallas’ home playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in January, Jones expressed his frustration with Cooper’s performances via comments that served as a predictable preview of what was to come. The Cowboys traded Cooper to the Cleveland Browns in March and then never replaced him with a big-name acquisition, and those decisions left CeeDee Lamb as Dallas’ new No. 1 player at the position. 

Jones recently told Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he views Lamb as an “upgrade” over Cooper as the top target for quarterback Dak Prescott. Per Hill, Jones remarked that Lamb “has the makings of more a complete No. 1 receiver in ‘production, in the huddle and off the field.'”

Jones’ words may seem petty following all that occurred over the first half of 2022, but he could also be proven right. As noted by ESPN stats, Lamb finished the 2021 regular season leading the Cowboys with 79 receptions, 120 targets, and 1,102 receiving yards. Cooper tallied a team-best eight receiving touchdowns (tied with tight end Dalton Schultz), while Lamb found the end zone on six occasions. 

Cooper also contributed 68 catches for 865 yards.