The Seattle Seahawks spent a lot of time this offseason refurbishing their wide receiver room. Are they getting ready to add another experienced pass-catcher?
The Seattle Seahawks have been making waves in the NFL offseason, aggressively reshaping their wide receiver room to bolster their offensive firepower for the 2025 season. With training camps looming just weeks away, speculation is mounting that the Seahawks are eyeing a major move to add veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper to their roster. This potential acquisition could be the blockbuster transfer that pushes Seattle’s passing game to new heights under head coach Mike Macdonald and new quarterback Sam Darnold.
A Revamped Receiving Corps
The Seahawks’ wide receiver unit looks drastically different from last season. The team parted ways with longtime stalwarts DK Metcalf, traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tyler Lockett, who was released. In their place, Seattle signed Super Bowl LVI MVP Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, while also drafting former Colorado State wideout Tory Horton in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. These moves have strengthened the roster, but general manager John Schneider appears far from done. The addition of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a rising star with All-Pro potential, has given the Seahawks a dynamic slot receiver, but the team still lacks a proven boundary threat to stretch defenses.
Enter Amari Cooper, a five-time Pro Bowler whose name has surfaced as a prime target for Seattle. According to Ezra Lombardi of The Lead, while the Arizona Cardinals might be the ideal fit for Cooper, the Seahawks are the most likely destination for the veteran wideout. “Bringing in Cooper would allow both Kupp and Smith-Njigba to work out of the slot more often and attack the middle of the field where they do their best work,” Lombardi noted. “He will also be another proven weapon to support their $100 million investment in Sam Darnold.”
Why Cooper Makes Sense
At 31 years old, Amari Cooper may not be the explosive playmaker he once was, but his track record speaks for itself. Over his 10-year career, Cooper has amassed over 10,000 receiving yards, including seven 1,000-yard seasons, with stints at the Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Buffalo Bills. His 2023 season with the Browns was particularly impressive, as he racked up a career-high 1,250 yards and earned his fifth Pro Bowl nod. Though his 2024 campaign was underwhelming—44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns across 14 games split between Cleveland and Buffalo—Cooper’s struggles were partly attributed to poor quarterback chemistry and midseason scheme changes.
Cooper’s size (6’1”, 211 pounds) and catch radius make him an ideal boundary receiver, capable of winning in contested situations and providing a reliable target for Darnold. Seattle’s new offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, runs a play-action-heavy scheme that favors deep shots downfield, aligning perfectly with Cooper’s career-high 14.3 average depth of target (aDOT) in 2023. With Darnold ranking in the upper half of the league in aDOT last season, Cooper could thrive as a downfield threat, complementing the slot-heavy skill sets of Kupp and Smith-Njigba.
A Strategic Move for a Contending Team
The Seahawks’ decision to pursue Cooper signals their intent to compete in 2025, rather than rebuild. Despite trading Metcalf for draft capital, Seattle’s front office has emphasized building for both the present and future. Signing Cooper to a short-term, cost-effective deal—likely affordable given his down year—would provide immediate stability to the receiving corps without hindering the development of younger players like Horton. Cooper’s veteran presence could also serve as a mentorship role for Smith-Njigba, much like Kupp, who is already expected to guide the 23-year-old star.
However, the clock is ticking. Posts on X and recent reports suggest that the Dallas Cowboys, where Cooper played from 2018 to 2021, are also interested in a reunion, with “building team interest” reported by Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Other teams, such as the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders, have also been linked to the veteran receiver, meaning Seattle must act swiftly to secure his services.
A Blockbuster in the Making?
Adding Amari Cooper could be the final piece of Seattle’s offseason puzzle, creating a formidable trio alongside Kupp and Smith-Njigba. While Cooper’s best days may be behind him, his experience, reliability, and ability to play on the outside make him a perfect fit for a Seahawks team looking to maximize Darnold’s potential and make a playoff push in 2025. As training camps approach, all eyes will be on John Schneider to see if he can pull off this high-profile signing.
If the Seahawks land Cooper, it could ignite their offense and send shockwaves through the NFC West. The question remains: will Seattle seal the deal, or will another team swoop in to steal the veteran star? The NFL world is watching, and this blockbuster transfer could be just days away from exploding.