Among the many needs the Indianapolis Colts have this offseason, the wide receiver position is near the top of the list. Could Amari Cooper be an option in free agency?

The Road So Far

It has been an interesting road for Cooper thus far since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. A polished route runner with a prototypical X-receiver skillset, Cooper has all of the talent in the world but it doesn’t appear he’s been able to reach his ceiling yet.

Cooper has had four seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards, but he’s never topped 1,200 yards in a season. He’s also never scored more than eight receiving touchdowns in a single season since entering the league. Still, he has recorded a 14.3 yards per reception average for his career, which is certainly intriguing.

Cooper spent his first three and a half seasons with the Raiders, often failing to live up to the production standards that came with his draft stock. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys during the 2018 season and seems to have found a better home.

In 2019, Cooper caught 79 passes for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 15.1 yards per catch.

Fit With The Colts

There is no denying the Colts need to find a top-tier weapon at the wide receiver position. We know Chris Ballard likes to draft raw prospects with speed and high upside, but Cooper would be a strong fit for the Colts offense as the X-receiver.

T.Y. Hilton is still under contract through the 2020 season, but he’s 30 years old and hasn’t been able to shake injuries the last two seasons. Cooper can win on the outside while also being moved to the slot, which is an aspect that Frank Reich could use plenty.

Cooper oftentimes disappears a few games in a season, but his skill set would give the Colts an immediate WR1. The fact that he’s turning 26 years old this offseason is even better for a struggling wide receiver corps.

Price

There are a few things to not when it comes to Cooper and his price tag. First, the Colts might not even get a chance to offer Cooper in free agency. Given that this is the last year of the current CBA, the Cowboys can use both the franchise tag and the transition tag, something that wasn’t allowed in years past.

This means that Dallas can franchise tag quarterback Dak Prescott and use the transition tag on Cooper. This would keep both players off of the free-agent market while giving them until July 15 to either sign the one-year deal or negotiate a long-term contract.

Second, should Cooper hit the market, his price will be extremely high—high enough to possibly keep Chris Ballard from truly pursuing him. Spotrac’s market-value model projects Cooper will receive a five-year deal worth $98.6 million. It’s just difficult to objectively predict Ballard going for that kind of money.

Conclusion

Cooper is a rare player that will hit the market and have an immediate impact on whichever team signs him. Logic says that Ballard won’t be willing to offer Cooper a large contract even if the latter does hit free agency.

But given his age, production and fit within the offense, the Colts should pursue him if he hits the market.

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