The Dallas Cowboys raised eyebrows this week when they sent a first-round pick to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for WR Amari Cooper.

Many felt that the Cowboys gave up too much for the former Alabama star, but it was a decision the Dallas front office didn’t make lightly.

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cowboys reached out to a number of people who know Cooper well, including Alabama coach Nick Saban. And, per the report, everyone gave him a sparkling review:

The people who knew Cooper spoke glowingly about him, according to sources. The list of people the Cowboys questioned for information about Cooper included Nick Saban, his former head coach at Alabama; Cowboys tight ends coach Doug Nussmeier, who coached Cooper at Alabama in 2012 and 2013; former Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio; and Cowboys fullback Jamize Olawale, who played with Cooper for three seasons in Oakland.

Clearly, Saban and his assistants got the most out of Cooper in his time with the Crimson Tide. The Raiders got back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons from him in his first two years in the league, but he’s struggled the past couple of seasons.

Will a change of scenery help him snap out of his funk? We’ll find out starting next weekend, as the Cowboys are off this week.