Training camps open across the NFL in just days, but Amari Cooper remains on the sidelines. The veteran receiver brings everything teams want: precise route-running, steady hands, and the kind of locker room presence that young players lean on. With his experience and skill set, Cooper represents one of the best values left in free agency.
While several teams could use his services, one franchise stands out as the perfect landing spot for a player who still has plenty to offer.
Why Do the Jets Need Amari Cooper More Than Anyone?
The New York Jets locked up Garrett Wilson with a $130 million contract, securing their top target for years to come. But as NFL Spin Zone’s Joshua Watt points out, things get a little thin after Wilson. The Jets have Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard on the roster, but neither fills the role of a reliable second option for quarterback Justin Fields.
The 2024-25 season represents a make-or-break moment for Fields. New York handed him a two-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed, giving him his second chance as a starter. His journey to this point tells the story of a quarterback still searching for the right situation.
Chicago traded up nine spots to select Fields 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, believing they had found their franchise player. However, when the Bears landed the first pick in 2024 and the chance to draft Caleb Williams, they moved on from Fields. Pittsburgh acquired him in a trade, but his time with the Steelers proved complicated.
Fields posted a 4-2 record in six starts while Russell Wilson recovered from a training camp calf injury. Despite the winning record, he never fully earned the trust of Pittsburgh’s coaching staff and struggled to find his rhythm in the offense. When the Jets offered him a fresh start, Fields didn’t hesitate to make the move.
What Would Cooper Bring to New York’s Offense?
The Jets’ biggest offensive need remains at wide receiver. While Wilson provides the explosive plays and game-breaking ability, the team lacks depth beyond their star. Cooper would give Fields the veteran presence and route-running precision that complements Wilson’s skill set perfectly.
Cooper struggled through a disappointing 2024 campaign. Cleveland traded him to Buffalo at midseason, with the Bills expecting him to boost their receiving corps. Unfortunately, Cooper suffered a wrist injury in Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks that derailed his season.
The injury forced him to miss Weeks 9 and 10, and when he returned in Week 11, he wasn’t the same player. Cooper finished the year with just 44 receptions on 85 targets for 547 yards and four touchdowns, far below his usual standards.
Those numbers tell only part of Cooper’s story. During his dominant 2022-23 stretch, he caught 150 passes for 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns. If Cooper can return to form at 31 years old, he would represent tremendous value for any team willing to take a chance on his bounce-back potential.
The Jets are desperately trying to transform their organizational culture. Head coach Aaron Glenn told ESPN, “We want to create our own narrative, we want to write our own book.” Glenn added, “When it’s all said and done, this is going to be a book that a lot of people would like to read.”
Adding a veteran like Cooper could help the Jets write that new chapter. His experience and professionalism would provide the kind of leadership that young rosters need, while his on-field production could give Fields the reliable target he needs to succeed in his crucial second opportunity.
