Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb seem to have wanted Cooper Kupp to join the Cowboys.

Almost immediately after news broke last Friday morning about the Dallas Cowboys being a sleeper team for signing Cooper Kupp, conflicting reports surfaced even faster, dampening Dallas’ interest in the former All-Pro wide receiver.

Kupp’s asking price for a new deal was around $15 million annually, which is exactly what the Seattle Seahawks gave the former Los Angeles Ram to join their team on a three-year contract. Despite the conflicting reports, Adam Schefter wanted to make it clear on The Adam Schefter Podcast that the Cowboys were initially interested in Kupp. So much so that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb called the then-free agent wide out.

It is refreshing to see that the Cowboys were in the mix for a top-tier free agent, but as Schefter mentions, when the price tag got past Dallas’ range, they were out of the sweepstakes. It’s something fans have become numb to hearing at this point.

Paying $15 million a year to a wide receiver who has been unable to finish an entire season healthy for three straight seasons is a tough pill to swallow. The Cowboys would rather spend $15 million on three free agents instead of one.

However, the team desperately needs a second wide receiver to complement Lamb and help Brian Schottenheimer’s first-year offense hit the ground running. Dallas could re-sign Brandin Cooks if they wanted to, but it seems unlikely, as his number was handed out to Dante Fowler a few days ago.

Pivoting from a receiver like Cooks and Kupp could signal they want to get someone younger at the position. The NFL draft could be their opportunity to find not only a great No. 2 wide receiver but one who comes at a low price tag (a win-win for the front office).

Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), and Matthew Golden (Texas) could all be in play at 12th overall for Dallas in the first round. Any of the three would add immediate juice to the offense, with things looking a lot better on paper.