The wide receiver position remains the most sought-after skill group in the entire NFL. Even as the talent pool continues to widen, wide receivers are the ultimate currency for any team in the league, which is what makes a five-time Pro Bowler still being on the free agent market all the more shocking.
With multiple teams with playoff aspirations and young quarterbacks littered across the NFL, adding a proven veteran to the receiving corps could unlock their offense and give their quarterbacks a much-needed boost. One analyst thinks the New England Patriots, the San Francisco 49ers, the Denver Broncos, and the Las Vegas Raiders could benefit from adding one of the most potent weapons in the league.
Teams That Could Add Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper, the fourth overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, has had a splendid run in the league so far. With some incredible highs and some tough lows, he has forged his legacy as one of this generation’s most productive wide receivers.
Finding success immediately, Cooper earned two consecutive Pro Bowl selections to begin his career. Subsequent stops with the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns have continued his winning, earning him five total Pro Bowl selections.
Unfortunately, the 2024 season was the worst of his career. Splitting time between the Browns and the Buffalo Bills, his numbers were far from his usual self, as PFSN mentioned in their breakdown of potential landing spots of the uber-talented pass catcher.
“Arguably the top free agent still available, Amari Cooper has a tremendous track record and was a Pro Bowl just two seasons ago. Though he had 1,250 receiving yards in 2023, he dipped down to 547 yards between stints in Cleveland and Buffalo in 2024. Neither team used him as the top target he had previously been.”
However, his success as recently as two years ago suggests that he can be a vital cog on most teams. As a result, there are a plethora of destinations where PFSN believes he could have an overwhelmingly positive impact, at least in the short term.
On December 9th, 2018, Amari Cooper had:
10 REC
217 YDs
3 TDsOn Philly’s head 😮💨🔥pic.twitter.com/expN92oVfx
— CowboysMuse (@Cowboys_Muse_) July 7, 2025
“Cooper deserves a chance at a starting role to prove he still has a lot left in the tank. The five-time Pro Bowl could make sense for WR-needy teams pushing for a deep playoff run like the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers. Likewise, younger teams like the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders could value his veteran leadership.”
It remains to be seen where he eventually ends up, but here is a more detailed breakdown of why the four franchises mentioned by PFSN could make sense for the veteran wide receiver.
New England Patriots
From one former Bill to another, the Patriots made it clear that they wanted to maximize the potential Drake Maye displayed in his rookie season. As a result, acquiring Stefon Diggs was a smart bet as a veteran receiver for the youngster to target.
However, outside of Diggs and Mack Hollins, the wide receiver room in New England could do with some additional firepower. From that perspective, Cooper would be a smash-hit success for the team to target, as another elite weapon for Maye as he enters his sophomore season.
Las Vegas Raiders
For the Raiders, the case would be marginally different. The Pete Carroll and Geno Smith combination has stood the test of time. But the core around them is still relatively very young. As a result, for them, Cooper could serve as another quality veteran addition to the roster.
As a locker room leader and a mentor to the young pieces on the squad, Cooper could thrive in the next phase of his career. He remains a potent weapon and could allow Smith to replicate last year’s success when he had over 4,300 yards to his credit.
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton clarified that diversifying the offense around Bo Nix was priority number one for the offseason. The Broncos achieved that goal to some extent, adding RJ Harvey in the draft and Evan Engram in the offseason.
However, as far as raw pass catchers go, the team struggles beyond WR1. As good as Courtland Sutton is, the rest of the wide receiver room needs work. For a young quarterback like Nix, the addition of Cooper could work in a similar fashion to what it would with the Patriots and Maye.
However, it would come with greater upside while offering the veteran wide receiver to potentially play in meaningful postseason games.
San Francisco 49ers
A transformative offseason for the 49ers saw them lose Deebo Samuel via trade to the Washington Commanders, before receiving a heartbreaking update about Brandon Aiyuk as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL injury suffered last season.
As a result, the wide receiver room around the newly extended Brock Purdy is suspect, at best. That would put an even greater burden on the returning Christian McCaffrey, something San Francisco might want to avoid.
Adding Cooper to the mix could be a smart respite, offering Purdy a chance to dominate in his new contract.
