Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper will be two of the most highly sought-after players if they hit the open market. The Dallas Cowboys will do their best to make sure neither one has a chance to join another team.

ESPN’s Jeff Darlington said on “Get Up” Wednesday morning that Dallas is focused on signing Cooper before the start of free agency. Because negotiations with Prescott could take longer, the Cowboys are expected to use the franchise tag on the quarterback.

The franchise tag would pay Prescott approximately $26.9 million guaranteed next season. He could be looking to make around $35 million a year, which is the highest average salary of any quarterback.

Players that are unsigned for the 2020 NFL season are allowed to start negotiating with other teams on March 16. Free agents can officially sign elsewhere on March 18.

The Cowboys traded a first-round draft pick to the then-Oakland Raiders for Amari Cooper in the middle of the 2018 season. The wide receiver has 132 catches for 1,914 yards and 14 touchdowns in 25 games with Dallas.

Dallas’ offense has been much better since Cooper joined the roster. The Cowboys went 7-2 in Cooper’s first year with the team. Dallas had the No.1 ranked offense in the 2019 season.

Julio Jones leads all receivers with an average yearly salary of $22 million. Michael Thomas’ five-year, $96.25 million contract is the most lucrative deal for any NFL receiver.

There has been speculation that Cooper could potentially sign with another team in free agency since it’s become clear that Prescott will likely be tagged. The franchise tag would prevent the signal caller from joining another team and give the two sides until July 15 to work out a long-term contract.

Dallas currently has the option of using the transition tag on Cooper. It would allow the organization to match any free-agent contract offer Cooper gets.

If a new CBA is reached this offseason, the Cowboys would have to rescind one of their tags.

Amari Cooper Cowboys Eagles
Amari Cooper #19 of the Dallas Cowboys makes a pass reception against Corey Graham #24 of the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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