Looking to improve one of the NFL's worst passing offenses, the Dallas Cowboys are examining the possibility of acquiring wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Oakland Raiders, according to a report by ESPN.
The former first-round draft choice has had a disappointing season for the Raiders, catching 22 passes for 280 yards and one touchdown. He was selected to the Pro Bowl his first two seasons in the NFL, however, eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards in both 2015 and '16. The ESPN report says the Cowboys have been actively gathering information about Cooper as they weigh the benefits of a trade.
The Raiders might be willing to trade Cooper, 24, as part of a potential rebuild, but their asking price of a first-round pick, according to ESPN and NFL Network, has not been met.
Under quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys are averaging 172 yards passing per game, which is the fourth-lowest in the NFL through the first six weeks.
However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sounded pessimistic when he was asked earlier this week about the possibility of adding a wide receiver before the Oct. 30 trade deadline.
"That's hard to do at this juncture, to bring in a position that needs the coordination that you have to have with the quarterback," Jones told KRLD-FM. "The farther you go into the year, then the harder it is to think about bringing a player in."
ESPN also reported that the Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts have asked about Cooper.
Cooper suffered a concussion last week against the Seattle Seahawks and remains in the NFL's concussion protocol. The Raiders are on bye this week, while the Cowboys play at Washington.
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