After spending the second half of 2024 with the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver is set to become a free agent and will look for a new contract. Buffalo traded a third-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for him, but the wide receiver didn’t live up to expectations. Dealing with a wrist injury, he recorded just 20 receptions for 297 yards and two touchdowns in eight regular season games with the Bills. His postseason performance was also lackluster, with only six receptions for 41 yards during Buffalo’s three-game playoff run.
Despite this underwhelming production, Spotrac forecasts that top star will still secure a two-year, $28 million contract on the open market. Given his struggles in Buffalo, the Bills might not be willing to invest that kind of money in the veteran receiver. If he does leave the team, expect receiver-needy franchises like the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, or Jacksonville Jaguars to potentially pursue Cooper, believing he’s worth the investment.
Amari Cooper’s Projected Contract Could Price Him Out of Buffalo
The Los Angeles Chargers are facing one of the worst wide receiver situations in the NFL, and head coach Jim Harbaugh is fully aware of it. After unsuccessfully trying to acquire Diontae Johnson multiple times during the season, the Chargers entered the playoffs with second-round pick Ladd McConkey and the inconsistent Quentin Johnston as their starting receivers. While McConkey impressed, Johnston and the rest of the depth chart struggled to contribute effectively.
Although Justin Herbert didn’t play his best game against the Houston Texans, his performance was still better than what his box score reflected. To improve, the Chargers need to add at least one more reliable receiver in the offseason. With over $63 million in projected cap space and the potential to clear more by cutting Joey Bosa, Los Angeles has the financial flexibility to pursue Amari Cooper.
While Cooper might not be the biggest name on the market, signing him could allow the Chargers to spend more on other needs, like Kansas City Chiefs impending free agent Trey Smith, instead of pursuing higher-profile receivers like Tee Higgins.
Other Fits
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is expected to return for the 2025 season, but with just one year left on his deal, a history of injuries, and retirement being a consideration, the team is likely looking for additional veteran leadership. Thielen is closer to the end of his career, so bringing in a proven veteran like Amari Cooper could be beneficial for the young playmakers around him. While Cooper may not be a 1,000-yard receiver at this stage, his experience would be valuable in a supporting role, helping to develop young talents like Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, with future star Brian Thomas, could also benefit from adding another reliable receiver to support quarterback Trevor Lawrence. With Christian Kirk likely on the chopping block and the Gabriel Davis contract never really making sense, the Jaguars might find Cooper to be a more reliable option. Even if he isn’t the player he once was, the current version of Cooper would still be a significant upgrade over Davis, and the team could easily justify meeting his contract demands.