If the Cowboys want to utilize his dual-threat abilities, they need to have him healthy. (0:38)
The Dallas Cowboys have begun their march to salary-cap compliance.
The Cowboys created more than $22 million in cap room after they restructured the contracts of two players.
When the quarterback signed his big deal last year, the move was already planned. The Cowboys were able to get more space this year because of the two voidable years added to Martin's contract. The salary-cap figure was $34.45 million for Prescott and $20.191 million for Martin.
The Cowboys have to create more space to get under the cap by the start of the 2020 league year. They could ask for pay cuts or restructure contracts.
According to multiple sources, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence has already declined a pay cut, and the team is waiting to hear from tight end Blake Jarwin regarding a pay cut after he had major hip surgery last month.
Lawrence will make $19 million this season and will have $27 million against the cap. The Cowboys don't have to make an immediate move with Lawrence because Randy Gregory and Dorance Armstrong are going to test the market.
The amount of the pay cut offered to Lawrence is not known, but when the Cowboys have offered pay cuts to players in the past, they have offered the chance for them to make back some of the money through incentives.
Last week, it was reported that the Cowboys were close to re-signing wide receiver Michael Gallup, who was likely to be released.
Cooper's $20 million base salary is guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year, so cutting or trading him would free up $16 million in room against the cap.
The Cowboys are hopeful that Gallup will be ready for game action in September after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last season. They have had productive talks with his agent about a long-term deal and are hopeful something will happen before the start of free agency.
The Cowboys are unlikely to move on from Cooper until they have an agreement with Gallup.
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