Wide receiver Amari Cooper looks to find a new team after his 2024-25 season didn’t go well.
Cooper was traded to Super Bowl contenders Buffalo Bills, but ultimately fell in the AFC Championship game to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Now a free agent, the wide receiver is looking at his options for the next step in his career.
NFL [dot] com senior writer Kevin Patra names the Los Angeles Chargers as the best fit for Cooper.
“Last year wasn’t pretty for Cooper in either Cleveland (24 catches for 250 yards and two TDs in six games) or Buffalo (20 catches for 297 yards and two more scores in eight games), but there should still be gas left in the tank,” Patra wrote. “The 31-year-old can be a boundary weapon and knows how to find space in the red zone. The Chargers lost a receiver who could have provided those skills when Mike Williams decided to retire, abruptly ending his franchise homecoming. The L.A. brass has displayed confidence in the youngsters, but there was a reason Williams was signed to return this offseason in the first place.”
“Cooper could serve as a veteran leader to the green corps. And he wouldn’t be asked to be the go-to weapon, a role Ladd McConkey ran away with last year, instead buffering Quentin Johnston and providing a backstop if rookies Tre Harris or KeAndre Lambert-Smith stumble. Additionally, Cooper appears to be the type of grinder and leader Jim Harbaugh loves.”
The wide receiver had 41 receiving yards in three playoff games last season for the Bills.
What Amari Cooper Brings To The Receiver Room
GettyFree agent wide receiver Amari Cooper.
With Ladd McConkey as WR1 for the Bolts next season, Cooper won’t have any worries about performing like he did in previous seasons.
The 547 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns were the two lowest of the wide receiver’s career. If Cooper can assist by putting at least half the numbers in his best seasons, it would provide much for Justin Herbert and the offense.
Los Angeles focused on the wide receiver room in the offseason, including the signing of the now-retired Mike Williams. The Bolts also selected two receivers in the second and fifth rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
If Cooper can aid the receivers on the roster, he could prove a valuable veteran presence to help develop the wide receiver room.
The former Alabama player could also draw attention from opposing defenses, allowing other members of the offense to get open.
Aging Player
GettyWide receiver Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper turned 31 years old back in June, which may persuade some teams away from signing the Pro Bowl receiver.
There is only one player in the WR group that has more than three seasons under their belt, Jalen Raegor, who is entering his sixth season as a professional
While Cooper has shown a slight regression, he recorded 1,250 yards in the 2023-24 season with the Browns, he could still keep up in the later part of his career.
The wide receiver holds the cards on where he wants to sign. It is just a matter of when he signs with a new team.
Chargers Named Best Fit For Five-Time Pro Bowl Free Agent