Amari Cooper Contract Update: Browns Deal In The Works?
Cleveland Browns manager Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski recently got their contract extensions, and now it’s time for someone else to get theirs.
In two seasons with the Browns, receiver Amari Cooper has been the model of consistency, while the quarterback situation has been anything but. In spite of catching passes from seven different quarterbacks in two seasons, Cooper has still been able to amass 150 catches, 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) makes a reception and scores a touchdown as Houston Texans cornerback D'Angelo Ross (37) defends during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Recent contract signings by his NFL peers have dropped Cooper to the No. 20 highest-paid receiver in the league - a full $15 million per season behind the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson.
Do we believe Cooper will get Jefferson money? Of course not, Jefferson is arguably one of the best receivers in the league, and he’s only 25 years old. Cooper will be entering his 11th year as a pro, and is currently holding out as he enters the final year of his four-year, $80 million contract he signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
Cooper should get a new contract, however. He has been the workhorse of the offense throughout the carousel of quarterbacks who have thrown him passes in Cleveland. The former Alabama receiver deserves to be paid like the Browns No. 1 wideout.
Looking at the contracts wideouts currently have, you could extend Cooper with a four-year, $110 million contract that would pay him an average yearly salary of $27.5 million per season. That would slot him right between the Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams and the Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp as the seventh-highest-paid receiver.
Whatever number they land on, an extension will likely get done before training camp begins next month. The Browns want the team focused on their ultimate goal this season.