As expected, the Cleveland Browns were able to reach an agreement with Amari Cooper to end his holdout as veterans reported for training camp on Tuesday. The interesting aspect of the deal is that it didn’t include any additional years, just a pay raise and guaranteed money for the 2024 season.
Of course, this doesn’t mean they won’t later re-sign him to an extension either during the season or the next off-season. However, I believe the team feels comfortable not locking Cooper down for the future primarily because of the young pass catchers they currently have on their roster.
Andrew Berry has had his eye on Jerry Jeudy for years, and after finally acquiring him, he made sure to get an extension on the books quickly. This shows Berry believes that Jeudy will be a great player for the Browns. The best part is that Cooper is around for 2024, giving Jeudy a chance to prove Berry right or wrong.
In addition to Jeudy, you have three draft picks, Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash, and David Bell, who are on the roster. Tillman seems poised to make a leap in year two after a rough start to his career. Bell is a solid possession guy, and Thrash has an intriguing athletic profile.
It is clear to me that the Browns know they need Cooper for 2024, but they believe in their scouting and development that the young guys can be long-term answers. But if things don’t work out this year and the young guys don’t take a leap, the team could always go back to the negotiation table with Cooper.