Fresh off the news that wide receiver Jakobi Meyers wants a trade, the Las Vegas Raiders decided to add some insurance. While it appears the plan isn’t to grant Meyers’ request, the team is signing another veteran.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, wide receiver Amari Cooper is joining the Raiders on a one-year deal. Fans of the franchise are very familiar with that name, as he was a first-round pick of the team back in 2015.
Cooper made back-to-back Pro Bowls in his first two years in the league and was a big part of the Raiders team that made the playoffs in 2016. However, he started to decline early on and didn’t fit well with former head coach Jon Gruden.
He ended up getting traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick, where he went back to being a Pro Bowler. Cooper was one of the best free agents still available and easily the best wide receiver option left.
Cooper split last season with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns and only had 547 receiving yards, which was the lowest of his career, but he’s also just a year removed from having 1,250 receiving yards in 2023. Cooper is only 31, so there should still be some juice left in the tank.
NFL World Reacts to Reunion
Considering how things ended between the Raiders and Cooper, it’d be easy to understand why he wouldn’t want to return. That said, it’s a completely different coaching staff and front office these days.
The Raiders are also in a new city, as Cooper played with the team when they were still in Oakland. Regardless, fans had a lot to say about the news. Some think that it signals that Meyers will get traded.
“So Jakobi is a goner then…,” one fan commented on the news.
Raiders fans made sure to give Cooper warm welcomes.
“Our native son!” a Raiders fan commented.
One fan even credited minority owner Tom Brady for the move.
Tom Brady getting Geno as much help as he can. Great owner!” a fan wrote.
Former Raiders linebacker Kirk Morrison wasn’t with the team when Cooper was, but he made sure to shout out the wide receiver.
“Welcome back Coop,” Morrison wrote on X.
Does Cooper Help the Raiders?
Wide receiver has been a big concern for the Raiders this offseason. Meyers is solid, but now that he’s unhappy, it’s unclear if he’ll even play for the team this season. Prior to Cooper signing, the depth behind him was very concerning.
Tre Tucker is a speedy deep threat, but he still has a lot to prove. Dont’e Thornton is showing flashes, but he’s a rookie. Jack Bech has a similar skillset to Meyers, but he likely needs a year in the NFL before he’s ready to make a similar impact.
Cooper gives the Raiders a proven wide receiver who is capable of putting up big numbers from time to time. He might not be a Pro Bowl-level player anymore, but he’s arguably the Raiders‘ second-best wide receiver already.
NFL World Reacts to Amari Cooper Signing With Raiders