The Cleveland Browns report to training camp next week, and many eyes will be on starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson should be fully healthy after having shoulder surgery in the middle of November last year, which caused him to miss the rest of the season.
Even though Watson was on the sidelines, the team still made the playoffs, with backup quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receiver Amari Cooper playing a significant role in the offensive success.
Cooper has been one of the best wide receivers in the NFL since entering the league out of Alabama in 2015. He has been named to five Pro Bowls, with his most recent one coming last year.
The nine-year veteran has been a bright spot in the Cleveland Brown’s receiving room the last two seasons since he was acquired in a trade from the Dallas Cowboys in March of 2022, and if it weren’t for him, the Browns would have the worst room in the entire NFL.
Even though the Browns will practice next week, Cooper will not wear the orange helmet because he is still waiting for a new contract. During the mandatory minicamp last month, the Pro Bowl wide receiver did not participate in any practices, so he is waiting for a new contract since he will be heading into the last year of his deal.
Cooper seems unwilling to budge on anything, and the Browns need to move off of him in a trade right now.
Cleveland Browns Have To Trade Cooper
Cooper is heading into scary territory for an NFL player. He will be heading into year ten, and he just turned 30 years old in June; many players start to slow down around that age, and with all the wear and tear he had on his body, his days could be coming to an end sooner rather than later.
The Cleveland Browns can’t afford to give Cooper a significant amount of money and a lengthy contract because what if he hits that wall that many NFL players do after they turn 30? The Browns will be in trouble. They are already paying 230 million dollars to a quarterback who can’t stay on the field.
The Cleveland Browns got their wish this week because San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade, and they could be a great trade partner for Cleveland.
The Browns Need To Trade For Aiyuk
Aiyuk just turned 26 years old, and he’s looking for a long-term contract; the 49ers have been unwilling to give him one, which is why he wants out. The Browns would be willing to provide a long-term deal for Aiyuk, and the money isn’t the issue with extending Cooper. It’s the years, and with Aiyuk being four years younger than Cooper, the Browns would be willing to get a contract done.
San Francisco is still in win-now mode and could use a player like Cooper. They drafted a wide receiver in the first round this year in Ricky Pearsall, and they already have Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle. They are set on pass-catching, so they wouldn’t have to extend Cooper after this season. They also would probably get a second-round pick from Cleveland in the deal.
The Cleveland Browns have to make a move for Aiyuk, and they better do it before their rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, gets in on him because they also need a receiver.
