Tag: Amari Cooper

1 thing that must happen for the Steelers to lure in top free agents

Pittsburgh has to solidify the quarterback position before trying to sign any top offensive free agents.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into free agency with plenty of money to spend. They should also have an opportunity to make some salary-cap cuts, re-do some contracts and really be sitting pretty to be big spenders when it comes to top-tier free agents.

However, none of that is going to matter until the Steelers do one big thing first. Pittsburgh has to have a veteran starting quarterback in place. Our preference would be Justin Fields which would then allow the Steelers to use a day-two draft pick in the 2025 NFL draft on a developmental quarterback like Jalen Milroe or Will Howards.

If the Steelers do decide to pass on Fields, they cannot wait to bring in a veteran. We hope it isn’t Russell Wilson but there are some names out there like Trey Lance or Jameis Winston if Pittsburgh wants to start over.

This isn’t to say any of them are the long-term solution but if the Steelers want to lure in a player like Tee Higgins or Amari Cooper, they want to know who is throwing them the football and they want to feel confident there’s someone there who can get them the football.

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Bills’ Brandon Beane backs decision to trade for Amari Cooper

Bills’ Brandon Beane backs decision to trade for Amari Cooper

Veteran receiver Amari Cooper joined the Bills via trade this season, adding some needed pro talent to a position where the team was looking to replace productivity after losing their top targets in the offseason.

Yet he was the least-used target in their final games, raising questions about his productivity.

Cooper came to Buffalo in a deal with the Browns, making some big plays and contributions in some games while seemingly mostly commanding coverage in others.

“I think he did a great job of learning our offense in fairness to him in due time,” GM Brandon Beane said to the media about Cooper. “He suffered the wrist injury, obviously, banged his back and missed some games but fought through it.”

Injuries to the Bills’ pass catchers were a factor that impacted the passing game late in the season, as was some questionable play-calling as Joe Brady is still developing in his second professional run as an offensive coordinator.

“You guys kind of know the mantra that was established this year by Josh and Joe Brady of everybody eats,” Beane added. “Adding him was not going to get away from that, but does that take a little pressure off of Shakir, Knox, Kincaid, the run game, all that? So I do not regret the move. I think it did help us. I think it did help us despite what his personal numbers were.”

In terms of snaps, Cooper was the least-used receiver in the games he played for Buffalo.

While an injury certainly was a factor, so was the learning curve.

“You’re talking about a player who’s never been in this offensive system,” Beane continued. “He’s got to learn the playbook, he’s never thrown with Josh Allen. You have to acclimate with your team, learn an offense. The games keep going and so I think he did a great job of learning our offense in fairness to him in due time. He suffered the wrist injury, obviously, banged his back, and missed some games but fought through it. Honestly, his wrist could have required surgery and I feel sure that at least one of the doctors recommended it, but he wanted to keep playing.”

Bills QB Josh Allen voiced his support as well.

“I’ve got nothing but love and respect for Amari Cooper,” Allen said. “I will never in my life say a bad thing about him. For him to come into this situation and understand the role that he was brought here to do, he is a true football player, a true teammate, and I’m just honored to share the field with him.”

When asked if he wanted to return to the Bills as he now is a free agent, Cooper said, “I mean, just to give it another run, have another opportunity at doing what we just did. But, you know, obviously finishing, so yeah. Been through a lot this year – injuries, trades, and things of that nature. Just keep going and never stop until you know it’s time to stop.”

2025 Free Agency: Can Steelers afford Tee Higgins’ massive payday?

The Steelers may be interested in Tee Higgins, but his price tag could force them to consider a cheaper alternative.

The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves once again in search of receiver help heading into 2025. Bengals WR  Tee Higgins, arguably the biggest free-agent wide receiver this offseason, has been tied to the Black and Gold as of late. However, he may prove too expensive for the Steelers’ taste.

According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, Higgins is expected to break the $30 million per year mark. Fowler noted that he has heard discussions of Higgins’ contract being lower—closer to Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith’s $25 million per year—but ultimately, more team personnel believe it will be much higher:

“The rest saw him breaking into the $30 million range, based on his status as a No. 1-caliber receiver and the number of teams desperate for pass-catching help.”

This could prove troublesome for the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster, with T.J. Watt, George Pickens, and DeShon Elliott set to hit free agency in 2026—all of whom could command massive contracts in their own right.

Should the Pittsburgh Steelers settle for a cheaper veteran option, such as WR Amari Cooper, or is Higgins’ talent too great to pass up in 2025 free agency?

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2025 NFL Free Agency: Projected value of Amari Cooper’s next contract

Here’s how much Buffalo #Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper could earn if he signs a contract extension in 2025

The Buffalo Bills traded for star wide receiver Amari Cooper during the 2024 season while he was in the last year of a contract he signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.

Set to become a free agent in 2025, what could Cooper’s next deal be worth?

Buffalo capitalized on a flurry of roster moves that were made by the Cleveland Browns in October and acquired Cooper, to help them fight for a Super Bowl title.

During the 2024 season, Cooper only cost Buffalo $806,667 against the salary cap, a bargain for a player with his pedigree and experience.

However, given the Bills’ cap situation heading into the 2025 season, it seems unlikely that Buffalo will be able to keep Cooper around.

According to Fair Market Value calculations of the experts at Sportrac, Cooper can expect to earn somewhere in the ballpark of $14,200,000 on his next contract, assuming that he doesn’t take a discount somewhere to try and win a Super Bowl title.

Couple top 5 picks among former Raiders on Conference Championship teams

Today we learn which teams will be playing in the Super Bowl. And there are a few former Raiders on these four teams who are hoping to punch their tickets. Including a couple former top five picks.

Today we learn which teams will be playing in the Super Bowl. And there are a few former Raiders on these four teams who are hoping to punch their tickets. Including a couple former top five picks.

Noon (3pm ET) Washington Commanders vs Philadelphia Eagles

Known at this point like one of the bigger busts in Raiders history. Mainly because he was taken fourth overall in the draft and never did anything to even warrant being a first round pick. He was a reach at the time. If you don’t believe me, just ask the guy who drafted him. Mike Mayock admitted after Ferrell was selected that the team tried to trade down first, but got no takers, so they selected him anyway.

Ferrell never did much of anything with the Raiders. They didn’t pick up his fifth year option and after his rookie contract was up, they had no problem letting him walk. He spent the 2023 season with the 49ers and latched on with the Commanders this season, where is a rotational guy, having started ten games in 14 appearances while only taking more the 50% of the snaps twice.

Noon (3pm ET) Washington Commanders vs Philadelphia Eagles

Mariota spent two seasons with the Raiders, with no starts. He has settled into the role of primary backup. Now he’s behind Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels and he and the rest of the Commanders are hoping to hitch their wagons to a star.

3:30pm (6:30pm ET) Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs

Coop was another fourth overall pick by the Raiders, just like Ferrell. But has had a far more successful career. Even still, midway through his fourth season with the Raiders, he was more valuable in trade than he was to the team, so he was sent to Dallas for a first round pick. Then, as expected, he commanded a huge new contract. A deal the Raiders would never have given him for his production — which was good but not great.

Three years into that deal, the Cowboys traded him to Cleveland. A couple years later — this season — the Browns sent him to Buffalo. And hence he finds himself playing for his first shot at a Super Bowl. And he could beat the Raiders bitter rival Chiefs to get there. You’d have to assume he’d be more excited about this meeting with the Chiefs than he was at any point when he played with the Raiders.

3:30pm (6:30pm ET) Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs

Coop will line up opposite another former Raiders receiver. Hollins has his best season as a pro in his one season in Las Vegas. One could say that season is the whole reason he’s on this team in the first place. Having proven he can be a viable X receiver when called upon.

3:30pm (6:30pm ET) Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs

Another guy who had a career year in his one season with the Raiders. He started a career-high 17 games and put up a career-high 47 combined tackles. He’s been on four teams in three years since then, including joining Amari Cooper in being traded from the Browns to the Bills.

Amari Cooper delivered such a selfless message despite his limited role with the Bills

Amari Cooper is so grateful to be on a winner.

Let’s make one thing clear about how professional athletes usually think.

Winning cures all. Full stop. End of story. It’s undebatable.

How else do you explain Amari Cooper’s current mindset as a member of the Buffalo Bills, who are one win away from Super Bowl 59? The Cleveland Browns mercifully traded Cooper to Buffalo in mid-October. But ever since, he hasn’t really contributed much to the Bills’ winning ways.

Seriously, for a supposed No. 1-caliber receiver, Cooper has just 20 catches for 297 yards and two touchdowns in eight appearances. In the 2025 playoffs alone, he has four total targets. Woof.

Yet, none of that seems to matter for the veteran Cooper. After being stuck on the listless Browns in the middle of his prime, he simply seems grateful he gets to be part of a winning operation in Buffalo. Period. That says it all about what kind of teammate and leader he is and what kind of example he wants to set.

Take a look at Cooper’s comments from Thursday about prioritizing team over individual success.

Man, this was so awesome to hear. I love that Cooper doesn’t seem bothered at all by his lack of production. Even more so, I’m so happy for a guy like him finally getting to experience the joys of successful playoff football. These are the sorts of athletes you truly love rooting for.

And if I know the NFL (I like to think I do), something tells me Cooper’s name won’t be as discrete as it has been through the rest of this Bills’ postseason run. I’ve seen defenses stop game-planning for playmakers who aren’t producing so often, only for those guys to inevitably explode. It’s like clockwork.

If Cooper’s opportunity arrives to actually contribute, you know his head will be in the right place.

Amari Cooper on statistical decline with Bills: ‘No complaints from me’

Amari Cooper on statistical decline with Bills: ‘No complaints from me’

After the Buffalo Bills dragged through Weeks 4 and 5 of the season with consecutive losses, the need for a true number one wide receiver rose to the surface as the blemish in the offense.

After a narrow victory in Week 6, Bills general manager Brandon Beane made the move for one, trading for veteran Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns.

Cooper has had six 1,000-yard seasons, including a career-high 1,250 receiving yards just last season.

If I told you directly after that trade that the Bills would end up in the AFC title game, you’d think it was because of Cooper’s involvement in the offense and the connection he developed with Josh Allen.

But, while Cooper has made an impact on the Bills and the offense, it hasn’t equated to much in the box score.

In eight games played for the Bills this year, he has averaged just 2.5 catches per game and 37 receiving yards per game. Quite the difference from his usual 1,000-yard pace.

We’ve seen this story before: a wide receiver doesn’t get enough targets, he complains to the quarterback or the coach, and it quickly becomes a media circus.

But, Cooper has proven to be different. Since he has arrived in Buffalo he’s made it clear that winning is more important than numbers.

After Wednesday’s walk-through, ahead of the AFC championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs, he was asked if he was satisfied with his lack of volume in the Bills’ offense.

“I’m very satisfied,” Cooper said. “I’ve never been this far in the playoffs. Obviously every receiver wants to have ten, twenty catches a game, but that’s not always how the cookie crumbles and that’s not always the most beneficial thing for the team.

“We’re getting the job done, so absolutely no complaints from me. That’s all I really want. I’ve had it every other way and have never reached the pinnacle of the sport.”

This is a breath of fresh air for the Bills and their fans. Having selfless guys like Cooper in the locker room and adopting the “everybody eats” mentality has proven effective for the team overall.

Maybe the coaching staff has something more in store for him in the season’s biggest moments. As a well-traveled veteran with five Pro Bowl nods, he may just come through when the Bills need him most.

Watch Cooper’s full response from Wednesday below:

Bills big-name WR returns to team ahead of Broncos game

Amari Cooper (personal) has returned to the Bills ahead of their playoff game against the Broncos.

Amari Cooper has returned.

After missing the Buffalo Bills’ regular season finale due to a personal matter, the veteran wide receiver returned to the team on Wednesday ahead of their playoff game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Cooper, a five-time Pro Bowler, was acquired by the Bills via trade with the Cleveland Browns in October. He played six games with the Browns earlier this year and eight games with the Bills, hauling in 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games this season.

The 30-year-old receiver started his career with the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders and has played against the Broncos nine times in his career. In those contests, Cooper totaled 31 receptions for 329 yards and two touchdowns.

Cooper is part of a Buffalo wide receiver room that also includes Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman.

Sunday’s AFC Wild Card game will be nationally televised on CBS.

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Bills big-name WR still away from team ahead of Broncos game

Bills WR Amari Cooper is still away from the team due to a personal matter, giving him an uncertain status for the Broncos playoff game.

Story update: Amari Cooper returned to the Bills on Wednesday. See our original post below.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper was excused from the team’s regular season finale over the weekend for a personal matter.

After being inactive on Sunday, Cooper had not returned to the Bills as of Monday late afternoon, and he has an uncertain status for the first round of the NFL playoffs next weekend.

Buffalo coach Sean McDermott is hopeful Cooper will return in time for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.

“I hope so,” McDermott said when asked if Cooper will return this week, via WHAM-TV’s Dan Fetes. “At this point, we are taking it one day at a time.”

Cooper, 30, was acquired by the Bills via trade with the Cleveland Browns in October. Through 14 games this season (six in Cleveland and eight in Buffalo), Cooper has totaled 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns. The five-time Pro Bowler has 711 career receptions for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns on his resume.

If Cooper does not return this week, Buffalo’s remaining receivers against Denver will be Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman.

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Buffalo Bills approaching multiple records going into Week 18

#Bills approaching multiple records going into Week 18

The Buffalo Bills far exceeded expectations in 2024 as they head into the season’s final week with a record of 13-3 and the AFC’s two seed locked up.

Despite already having their sights set on the postseason, they have a few records they could set in Week 18 against the New England Patriots.

With the team’s success, specifically on offense led by quarterback Josh Allen and offensive coordinator Joe Brady, they are now in a position to make more history:

Most players with a receiving TD in a season

Oct 20, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) runs after making a catch with wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) running alongside in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

With Tyrell Shavers’ long catch and run for a touchdown in Week 17, the Bills tied the NFL record for most players with a receiving touchdown in a season.

The following players caught a touchdown in 2024: Khalil Shakir; Amari Cooper; Keon Coleman; Mack Hollins; Curtis Samuel; Tyrell Shavers; James Cook; Ty Johnson; Ray Davis; Dalton Kincaid; Dawson Knox; Quintin Morris; Josh Allen.

With the Bills slated to play their backups for much of the Week 18 game, they have a good chance of breaking this record. Some players who haven’t had much of an opportunity this year will have the chance to be an NFL record-breaker.

Some potential practice squad guys who could find the endzone in Week 18 are TE Zach Davidson, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR KJ Hamler, and WR Jalen Virgil. If FB Reggie Gilliam scores his first TD of the year that would break the record as well. And, there’s always the chance an offensive linemen could catch one. Josh Allen caught a touchdown this year so nothing can be ruled out.

First team to pass and rush for 30 TDs in a season

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On the season, the Bills have compiled 33 rushing touchdowns and 29 passing touchdowns. No team in NFL history has had 30 of each in a season. The Bills can be the first to do so by throwing one more touchdown pass, and it could set this record as well as break the record above in one play.

Mack Hollins leads the team with five receiving touchdowns while James Cook leads the team with 15 rushing touchdowns.

Most wins in a regular season in franchise history

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The Bills have never had 14 wins in a regular season in team history. A win over the Patriots in Week 18 would cement this squad in its team history.

The Bills have now had five years in team history with 13 regular season wins: 1990; 1991; 2020; 2022; 2024.

Backups will likely see the majority of snaps in the game, but they could still etch their spot in team and NFL history with a strong performance.

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