Amari Cooper Says He Wants to Be 'A Cowboy for Life' Ahead of Free Agency

Amari Cooper gave the Dallas Cowboys some reassurance on Thursday night ahead of his free agency.

"I love being a Dallas Cowboy," the 25-year-old wide receiver said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan's Nosebleed Seats. "I love everything about it. I think about it every day. Just the aura of being a Dallas Cowboy, you can't beat it. I want to be a Cowboy for life."

The NFL's deadline to apply the franchise tag is March 12, and Cooper said in late January that "nothing would surprise me" when asked about the possibility of the Cowboys tagging him. He continued, however, noting his long-term security is important to him:

The Cowboys' ability to lock down Cooper with a long-term deal is complicated by the fact that quarterback Dak Prescott is also scheduled to become a free agent once the new league year begins on March 18.

Cooper wants Dallas to find a way to keep them both:

Prescott expressed as long ago as May 2019 that he also wants to be "a Cowboy for life," though he and the franchise were not able to agree on an extension before last season.

Cooper landed in Dallas when the then-Oakland Raiders traded him in late October 2018. The Cowboys sent the Raiders a 2019 first-round draft pick to acquire the 2015 fourth overall pick, which leads one to believe the organization planned from the start to keep Cooper for the long haul.

The Alabama product recorded 725 yards and six touchdowns on 53 catches across nine games for the Cowboys to finish out the 2018 season. He built upon that last season with a career-high 1,189 yards, eight touchdowns and 79 catches across 16 games.

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones commented on Cooper's contract negotiations in late February:

On Feb. 2, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that the Cowboys are expected to place the franchise tag on Prescott. However, CBS Sports' Patrik Walker reported on Feb. 11 that several anonymous sources told him the Cowboys are "prepared to exercise the franchise tag on Cooper."

Dallas will have to make a decision within the next week.