Once considered one of the more productive pass catchers in the NFL, Amari Cooper's remarkable rise appears to have fizzled out as he now navigates the uncertain waters of free agency. The former first-round draft pick, who once dazzled on the field, now finds himself without offers as he approaches the age of 31.
The Kansas City Chiefs, addressing their wide receiver needs after Rashee Rice's injury during the 2024 season, took decisive action at the trade deadline. Initially eyeing Cooper, the Chiefs shifted their focus after he was successfully traded to the Buffalo Bills. Instead, they opted for DeAndre Hopkins, who would end up contributing significantly during his tenure with the team.
Hopkins provided the Chiefs with some much-needed support on offense, finishing the regular season with 437 yards and four touchdowns across ten games and five starts. Meanwhile, Cooper, who was expected to help the Bills' playoff aspirations, ended up underwhelming, accomplishing less than 300 yards and two touchdowns throughout the regular season.
Fast forward to March 18, 2025, and Cooper remains unsigned as free agency continues. With the bitter reality setting in, the NFL community is starting to question his future. Matthew Berry, well-known fantasy sports analyst, suggested Cooper's time may be nearing its end after citing insights from an offensive coach of Cooper's former team. “Amari is done. That's not me talking. That's from an offensive coach of a former team of his I spoke to at the Combine,” Berry mentioned, raising eyebrows and stirring speculation about Cooper's status.
Cooper's initial success had established him as one of the top receivers. The Oakland Raiders selected him as the No. 4 overall pick during the 2015 NFL Draft, and Cooper went on to rack up impressive statistics—including 225 receptions for 3,183 yards and 19 touchdowns—during his three and a half seasons with the franchise.
Following his departure from Oakland, Cooper excelled with the Dallas Cowboys, gaining even more recognition before ending up with the Cleveland Browns. The 2023 season was particularly lucrative for the wide receiver, as he logged 72 receptions, 1,250 yards, and five touchdowns, earning his fifth Pro Bowl selection.
Unfortunately, the 2024 season was marred by injuries and inconsistencies. A wrist injury significantly hampered his performance, exacerbated by frequent dropped passes. After only six games, during which his potential went largely unrealized, the Browns made the call to trade Cooper to the Bills.
With the Bills, expectations were high for Cooper to be the catalyst to help Josh Allen and the team push for Super Bowl glory. Yet, disappointingly, his output deteriorated even more, culminating with just 20 receptions for 297 yards and two touchdowns during his eight games with Buffalo. Now, Amari Cooper stands at the precipice of his career, facing the harsh reality of being without team options as free agency rolls on.
Given Cooper’s downward trend, both fans and analysts look back on how different his season could have been had he moved to Kansas City instead of the Bills. Many feel the Chiefs made the right decision by trading for DeAndre Hopkins instead of making the move for Cooper.
The Chiefs could be applauded for recognizing potential issues surrounding Cooper before the trade deadline, having dodged the bullet of bringing him on board. There’s little doubt Cooper had the talent to succeed previously, but the more recent seasons pose immense challenges for him moving forward.
Now, as the free agency period presses on, the question looms: Which teams see enough potential to take a chance on the seasoned wideout? With each passing day, the uncertainty grows stronger, leaving fans to wonder if Cooper will find the spark necessary to rejuvenate his career and turn back the clock on his once-promising status.
Meanwhile, for the Chiefs, their selection of Hopkins proved justified, allowing the team to maintain its competitive edge as they pursue another championship run. Their foresight might have paved the way for maximizing opportunities with their current star players, focusing on their offensive strategies rather than gambling on Cooper's unpredictable output.
Cooper's story serves as both cautionary and emblematic of the NFL's ever-shifting roster dynamics, reminding fans of the fleeting nature of player success, especially as injuries and performance hiccups can alter careers overnight.
For now, as Cooper waits to find out where he’ll land next, fans are left to reflect on the incredible heights he once soared and the gravity of the challenges he now faces. What will the next chapter hold for this once-prominent wide receiver? Time will tell.
