The 2018 Amari Cooper Trade: Dallas Paid a First-Round Pick and Rescued Its Passing Game
Dallas sent its 2019 first-round pick to Oakland for Amari Cooper. Cooper sparked the Cowboys immediately, while the Raiders used No. 27 on Johnathan Abram.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Amari Cooper
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 2019 1st round pick (27th overall, Johnathan Abram )
Trade Summary
Dallas sent a 2019 first-round pick to Oakland for Amari Cooper and immediately transformed a passing game that had lacked a true No. 1 target. Cooper helped spark a 2018 division-title run, produced multiple Pro Bowl seasons in Dallas and gave Dak Prescott a polished separator in his prime. The cost was significant, but the Cowboys received several years of top-level production from the exact position they needed.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Dallas acquired Amari Cooper from Oakland on October 22, 2018 for its 2019 first-round pick. The Raiders eventually used that selection, No. 27 overall, on safety Johnathan Abram. The deal was unusual because Dallas surrendered premium future draft capital in the middle of a season rather than waiting to address receiver in the spring.
Why Dallas Accepted the Price
The Cowboys were 3-4 and badly needed a receiver who could create separation and command coverage. Cooper provided exactly that. His arrival changed the structure of the passing game, gave Dak Prescott a legitimate No. 1 target and helped Dallas surge to the NFC East title. Cooper made the Pro Bowl after the trade and remained a productive starter for several seasons.
That immediate effect matters when evaluating the first-round cost. Dallas was not buying a speculative future contribution. It was buying a proven receiver at a position of urgent need, and the player materially changed the offense during the same season.
What Oakland Received
A first-round pick for a veteran receiver with a coming contract decision was substantial compensation. The Raiders had a defensible rebuilding rationale and gained another premium selection for their roster reset.
The problem was the conversion. Abram brought physicality and flashes of useful play, but injuries and uneven performance prevented him from becoming a long-term foundational player in the Raiders secondary. Oakland eventually moved on without receiving the kind of multi-year impact that would have made the trade look balanced.
The Contract Question
Dallas later paid Cooper significant money and ultimately traded him to Cleveland for much less draft value. That later decision affects the total Cooper asset cycle, but it does not erase what the 2018 acquisition accomplished. The Cowboys received multiple productive seasons and an immediate offensive turnaround.
Final Verdict
Dallas wins. Oakland received the kind of asset rebuilding teams should value, but the Cowboys acquired the superior realized football value. Cooper solved a real problem, helped rescue the 2018 season and remained a high-level receiving option well beyond the initial playoff push.