Former Alabama WR Amari Cooper is entering free agency for the first time in his career. Cooper was drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders with the No. 4 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent four years with the Raiders before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys. At the conclusion of his rookie contract, he agreed to a massive 5-year, $100 million extension with the Cowboys before hitting the open market.
He was traded to the Cleveland Browns before the 2022 season and spent two and a half seasons with the Browns. He got dealt at the trade deadline this past season to the Buffalo Bills in a move many expected would be a huge boost for Cooper and the Buffalo offense.
Instead, Cooper never really caught on with the Bills and his 2024 season finished with the lowest receiving output of his career. He finished the year with just 547 yards and four touchdowns.
It appears unlikely that Cooper will re-sign with the Bills this offseason. Even following his worst statistical output and the fact that he'll be 31 years old by the time next season starts, Cooper is still projected to have a robust market in free agency.
According to Sportrac, Cooper is projected to earn a 2-year contract worth about $28 million in free agency. It's not the contract Cooper would have hoped to earn this offseason, but it's still a pretty good number for a player his age.
His days of being a No. 1 option for an offense are probably over, but he can absolutely still be a high-end No. 2 or No. 3 option for a good team.
The 3 best landing spots for Amari Cooper in free agency
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers were heavily involved in trying to work out a trade for Cooper with the Browns before he was dealt to Buffalo. Mike Tomlin evidently coveted the former Crimson Tide WR. Pittsburgh could use a reliable No. 2 option next to George Pickens, and bringing in a veteran like Cooper who has the reputation of being a consummate professional could be helpful in the maturity of Pickens.
Would Cooper reciprocate the interest? He just spent a lot of time in Cleveland with questionable QB play. Deshaun Watson was a bust for the Browns and he spent more time on IR than on the football field. Would he want to step into another situation where the QB play is unsettled?
The Steelers' top two QBs from 2024 - Russell Wilson and Justin Fields - are both free agents this offseason. Even if one or both are brought back, neither shined last season for Pittsburgh.
2. Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young took a sizable leap over the second half of his second season in the league, but it is clear that if the Panthers want to take the next step, they have to get Young more help in the WR room.
A WR room featuring Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker doesn't really move the needle in Carolina. Adding another reliable veteran who is a master at route-running and separating from DBs would be huge for Young. He's used to working with minimal separation from his receivers and having to drop him dime after dime to get the offense rolling.
The Panthers could be in the sweepstakes for the top WRs on the market like Cincinnati's Tee Higgins or Tampa Bay's Chris Godwin, but if they miss out on them then Cooper could be a nice consolation prize.
1. Detroit Lions
The Lions enter the offseason with $57 million in cap space. They've been one of the top teams in the NFC the last two seasons and they can afford a luxury addition like Cooper would be.
The Lions have two really good WRs - Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Those two both went over 1000 receiving yards last season. They could use a more reliable No. 3 option at WR, though. Cooper would be a big upgrade over Tim Patrick.
Adding Cooper to St. Brown, Williams, TE Sam LaPorta, and RB Jahmyr Gibbs would be another added layer to a dynamic Detroit offense.
Cooper might have a bigger role in places like Pittsburgh and Carolina, but Detroit gives him an opportunity to chase a Super Bowl.