How Amari Cooper and Micah Parsons can help keep Cowboys opponents in check

Amari Cooper was selected fourth overall in 2015 by the Oakland Raiders. Midway through the 2018 season, the former Alabama receiving star was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2019 first-round draft pick. The Cowboys were in desperate shape at wide receiver after parting ways with Dez Bryant, and many felt that the Dallas front office panicked when they gave up such premium draft capital for a player who was showing some noticeable regression. Here are his numbers in the silver and black:

• 2015: 72 catches for 1,070 yards
• 2016: 83 catches for 1,153 yards
• 2017: 48 catches for 680 yards
• 2019: 22 catches for 280 yards through his final six games with Oakland

The Cowboys took a big risk in trading for Cooper, but as it turned out - it was just what the doctor ordered. Upon his arrival, the offense instantly improved. In just nine games with the Cowboys in 2018, Cooper hauled in 53 passes for 725 yards. It was the highest yards per game showing he had his entire career and it nearly doubled what he was producing during his six previous games with Oakland that season. Cooper has since had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons during his two full years with the Cowboys, and while many attempt to shoot down the notion that he's an elite receivers, the numbers say otherwise. Here are the most yards by a receiver since the Amari Cooper trade to Dallas:

1. 3,355 yards, DeAndre Hopkins
2. 3,101 yards, Stefon Diggs
3. 3,067 yards, Davante Adams
4. 3,030 yards, Julio Jones
5. 3,028 yards, Amari Cooper

Cooper's value to the team is undeniable, so it makes sense that he's the offenses highest paid player after quarterback Dak Prescott.

Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper@DraftDiamonds / Twitter

While Cooper helps spark a very good Cowboys offense, the team has a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball. They have edge rushing stud DeMarcus Lawrence, but outside of him, the big splash makers are few are far between. That's why the front office is super hyped about their 2021 first-round selection.

With everyone expecting the Cowboys to go cornerback on Day 1, the draft dealt them a curveball when both Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II went 8th and 9th overall. Dallas then shipped the 10th overall pick to Philadelphia and moved back a couple spots while picking up an extra third-round pick in the process. And with the 12th overall pick, the Cowboys took the super-freaky athletic linebacker from Penn State, Micah Parsons.

The Cowboys are looking for a big defensive playmaker and they may have found him in Parsons. With 4.39 speed, this long-striding linebacker can fly all across the field to run down ball carriers. He's still a young player who has only scratched the surface, but he's already established himself as one of the best run-stopping linebackers coming out of college. Parson's also one of the best blitzing linebackers we've seen in a while and will give this Cowboys defense a dynamic player.

Micah Parsons, LB Penn State@pfrumors / Twitter

Both Cooper and Parsons are very good at what they do. Amari is a precision route-runner who has made a living getting to the top of his routes at top speed, stopping on a dime, and breaking out while his defender is leaning the wrong way. His ability to create separation is top notch. Micah has a lot of work to before he masters his craft, but his burst and range makes him one of the most explosive linebackers entering the league. And if he gets his mitts on you, it's over because he has strong hands and does a great job wrapping up.

The competitive spirit of these two will be on display come fall, but in the meantime they have decided to showcase their skills on the chessboard as the rookie decided to take on the resident Cowboys chessmaster, and it didn't go so well for the kid.

But the rookie wouldn't give up. Parsons battled Cooper in a rematch, and low and behold the kid actually emerged triumphant and took down the champ!

I have a feeling this rivalry is only just getting started.

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