All three of the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, and Arizona Cardinals have a glaring hole in the wide receiver room. While many believe the franchises will address this need in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is loaded with receiving talent, one analyst predicts they might show interest in first-time free agent Amari Cooper.
Is Amari Cooper a Good Fit With the Chiefs, Texans or Cardinals?
Cooper split time with the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills in 2024. However, after amassing a career-low 547 yards in 14 games, Cooper’s value going into free agency is quite low. But that’s not to say there won’t be interest from teams needing pass catchers.
There is still evident upside to bringing Cooper on board. First, he’s an established veteran who can be relied upon on third downs. When Cooper had Josh Allen as his quarterback for eight games this season, he caught 62% of passes thrown his way for 297 yards, compared to the 250 yards he recorded in six games with the Browns.
Cooper proved his reliability with the Bills, putting up solid numbers while being targeted just 32 times. His 85 total targets across 2024 were also a career low for the veteran.
Another reason Cooper could be an important signing is his veteran leadership. Whoever acquires him will get a receiver who knows the ins and outs of the NFL and can serve as a mentor to younger players.
There is always value in picking up a player like Cooper, and Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes he would be a good fit for either the Chiefs, Texans, or Cardinals.
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“If healthy, the 30-year-old can be a solid No. 2 wide receiver. He’s still a sharp route-runner with reliable hands. In eight games with the Bills, the veteran wideout recorded a 62.5 percent catch rate.
“Cooper has been traded three times, so he’s going through his first experience as a free agent. He fits with a team that won’t be heavily reliant on him posting Pro Bowl numbers but needs a savvy pass-catcher to fill a void on the perimeter.
“Teams looking for a safety blanket to help a young quarterback may be interested in Cooper, though he should be willing to take less from a contender for a chance to win a Super Bowl.”
While the Chiefs don’t have a young quarterback, they need a receiver, given the drama surrounding Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce’s decline in production. Kansas City has drafted receivers in the first round of the NFL Draft in recent years, but if Cooper agrees to a lower pay to win the Super Bowl, the Chiefs could be willing to bet on the 30-year-old.
Meanwhile, the Texans have both a young quarterback and a void in the receiver room after Stefon Diggs signed with the New England Patriots in free agency. Again, Cooper could be willing to a pay cut here and if he regains some of his 2023 form, he would be a nice addition to the Houston offense.
Arizona’s offense was already firing under Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride in 2024, with the young duo topping the team in receiving yards with 1,146 and 885, respectively. However, it wasn’t enough to secure them a playoff appearance, and adding a veteran receiver in Cooper could help make a significant difference in this wide receiver room if he regains his Pro Bowl form.
I like Amari but I would rather see the Chiefs draft a 2nd receiver to play with Worthy and Rice for the long haul and that is not Amari (another 1 yr receiver). Tre Harris, or Higgins would be a much better fit in the long run. Both have good 4.4 speed and are true X receivers who are physical and thrive on contested catches and can be real red-zone threats. So, yeah it would be a major win to get one of these young guys (especially Higgins).