Amari Cooper has been a household name in the NFL for years, a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver whose smooth routes and reliable hands have dazzled fans. Yet, as the NFL offseason progresses, a startling narrative is emerging: despite his pedigree, Cooper is a free agent and has been for months, with teams that know him best seemingly looking in other directions. Is it possible that one of the league’s most consistent pass-catchers might be “done” with his NFL career? Let’s delve into the intriguing details and the harsh realities of the league’s evolving perspective on the talented receiver.
The Curious Case of Amari Cooper: A Pattern of Underperformance at Critical Junctures? The core of the mystery surrounding Amari Cooper lies in a peculiar pattern. As noted, his acquisitions, despite his talent, have “never quite worked out very well.” His 2019 move to the Dallas Cowboys, while bringing some success, didn’t culminate in the envisioned long-term impact. Then, his trade from Dallas to Cleveland saw the Browns eventually follow suit, moving him to the Buffalo Bills. And even that 2024 midseason trade to the Bills reportedly didn’t “work out the way the Bills had envisioned it,” with Cooper never truly clicking in Joe Brady’s offense.
It’s true that the midseason move to Buffalo, coupled with an injury, put Cooper in a tough spot, forcing him to play “catch-up.” However, the NFL is a results-oriented business. For a player entering his 30s, recent performance carries immense weight. His stint with the Bills, playing alongside MVP quarterback Josh Allen, was particularly telling: he managed just 297 yards and two touchdowns from 20 receptions in eight regular-season games, with six games yielding 12 or fewer yards. His postseason contribution was even more stark, totaling only 41 yards in three playoff outings, where he was “essentially benched.”
The NFL’s Harsh Truth: Coaches Speak Out: While media outlets like USA Today express bewilderment, citing his “veteran presence and consistency,” the cold truth from within the league is far more brutal. NBC Sports NFL insider Matthew Berry relayed a shocking statement from a former offensive coach of one of Cooper’s teams: “Amari is done.” This isn’t just a casual opinion; it’s a direct assessment from someone intimately familiar with Cooper’s game and impact.
The Dallas Cowboys, who know Cooper well, reportedly observed “shrinkage” – a term used to describe his tendency to not perform “big enough in big moments.” This intangible yet critical factor, combined with his recent lack of production, paints a grim picture. Teams in need of a wide receiver, including the Cowboys (who traded for George Pickens) and the Bills (who signed Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore, the latter having played third fiddle to Cooper in Cleveland), have actively chosen other directions. This collective decision from teams that have either directly employed or scouted him extensively speaks volumes.
A Training Camp Hail Mary? As Amari Cooper turns 31 this month, the market for his services has been stagnant for months. The only remaining hope for him to continue his NFL career might be a last-minute call-up for a training camp spot, perhaps due to an unexpected roster injury. This would signify a dramatic shift from being a highly sought-after Pro Bowl talent to a last-resort option.
The narrative around Amari Cooper is a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of the NFL. Despite a decorated past, the league’s current assessment, voiced by former coaches and evidenced by teams’ actions, suggests that his time as an impactful, highly sought-after receiver might be drawing to a close. While it’s hard to definitively say Amari Cooper is “done,” the silence from the free-agent market and the clear preferences of his former teams paint a sobering picture. Unless a major change occurs during training camp, the five-time Pro Bowler might indeed be facing the surprising and perhaps premature end to an otherwise impressive NFL career.