Exclusive: Proposed ʻDreamʻ Trade Sees Browns Ship Out WR Amari Cooper
The New England Patriots are reportedly eyeing Cleveland Browns’ Amari Cooper as a potential offseason acquisition.
During the offseason, The Cleveland Browns could face some challenging choices that might involve parting ways with their prominent receiver Amari Cooper.
According to Bleacher Report, the New England Patriots have reportedly proposed a trade that involves Cooper. Although it would provide cap relief for the Browns, this move comes with a high price tag.
To begin the Jerod Mayo era in New England, the Patriots aim to acquire a genuine No. 1 wide receiver. This move would also bring Cooper together with former Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt once again, who now holds a different position within the Patriots organization.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report stated that while it is unlikely for the Browns to let go of their exceptional receiver, Amari Cooper, due to a $20.6 million cap deficit they are facing, trading him would result in saving around $12.4 million in cap space. Therefore, if available on the market, acquiring Cooper at 29 years old would be an ideal situation for the New England Patriots.
Amari Cooper can be extended by the Browns during this offseason.
The Browns have the option of extending Amari Cooper during this offseason.
New England may face disappointment as it seems unlikely that the Browns will consider parting with Cooper. Despite receiving passes from four different quarterbacks last season, he remained a driving force of their offense and tallied an impressive 1,250 yards on 72 receptions.
On Christmas Eve against the Houston Texans, Cooper delivered an exceptional performance. He managed to catch 11 passes for a total of 265 yards which set a new record for his franchise in terms of single-game numbers.
Cooper stated on January 10 that records are intended to be surpassed and ultimately, they are simply numerical values. He acknowledged their significance but emphasized the importance of focusing on the future rather than dwelling in past accomplishments. Cooper aims to reflect back nostalgically on his career after he has retired from playing professionally.
Although Cooper carries a hefty weight in the team’s financial records, the Browns have an opportunity to lower his impact by negotiating a contract extension. Despite approaching 30 years of age, he remains with plenty of talent and energy for future seasons. Furthermore, it is worth noting that Cooper’s humility and reliability on the field are crucial aspects as the Browns consider prolonging their partnership with him.
Since joining the Browns in 2022, Cooper has exceeded all predictions. Cleveland acquired him from the Dallas Cowboys for a mere fifth-round draft pick.
Amari Cooper is the focus as Browns seek to bring in more talented players.
This offseason, Kevin Stefanski and the Cleveland Browns may consider bolstering their wide receiver corps by procuring additional weapons.
As impressive as Cooper’s performance was, the Browns require additional support. Although Elijah Moore (59 receptions for 640 yards) and tight end David Njoku (81 receptions for 882 yards) made meaningful contributions to the team, other pass catchers did not produce much output.
Although Browns GM Andrew Berry did not explicitly label it as their “top priority” for the offseason, he admitted that they might consider bringing in one or more playmakers.
“We are still evaluating the situation, but we have confidence in our pass catchers,” stated Berry to The Athletic on February 1st. “It’s rare for NFL teams to have two Pro Bowl-worthy receivers like Amari Cooper and David Njoku, along with a talented supporting cast. While adding more playmakers is always a consideration, it may be too presumptuous to label that as our main priority.”
The Browns may consider several wide receiver choices, such as Tee Higgins, Mike Evans, Gabe Davis and Calvin Ridley.
