After spending the latter half of 2024 with the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver is set to hit free agency in search of a new contract. Buffalo acquired Him from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a third-round pick, but the veteran receiver didn’t deliver the expected value.
Battling a wrist injury, the former top-five draft pick managed just 20 catches for 297 yards and two touchdowns over eight regular-season games. His postseason performance was similarly quiet, with only six receptions for 41 yards across Buffalo’s three playoff contests.
Despite these modest numbers, Spotrac projects Him to land a two-year, $28 million contract in free agency. While this is a significant investment for an aging receiver, the Bills may be reluctant to commit that amount given his limited impact.
If Buffalo moves on, teams in need of receiving help—such as the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, or Jacksonville Jaguars—could emerge as potential suitors.
Amari Cooper’s Projected Contract Could Price Him Out of Buffalo
The Los Angeles Chargers have one of the weakest wide receiver groups in the league, and head coach Jim Harbaugh is well aware of it. Despite multiple attempts to trade for Diontae Johnson throughout the season, the Chargers entered the playoffs relying on second-round rookie Ladd McConkey and the inconsistent Quentin Johnston as their primary receivers.
While McConkey performed exceptionally well, Johnston and the rest of the unproven depth chart struggled to contribute.
Quarterback Justin Herbert had a rough outing against the Houston Texans, though his performance was better than the stats indicated. To improve their offense, the Chargers must add at least one reliable receiver this offseason.
With over $63 million in projected cap space—and the potential for more if they release Joey Bosa—they have the financial flexibility to pursue Amari Cooper. While Cooper isn’t the biggest name on the market, signing him instead of a top-tier option like Tee Higgins would free up cap space to make a major investment in Kansas City Chiefs free-agent guard Trey Smith.
Other Fits
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is expected to return for the 2025 season, but with just one year left on his contract, durability concerns, and post-season retirement considerations, his future remains uncertain.
As he nears the end of his career, the Panthers need a reliable veteran to complement their young playmakers. While Amari Cooper may no longer be a 1,000-yard receiver, he could thrive in a situational role, providing leadership and helping young talents like Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker develop into long-term contributors.
Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a rising star in 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas but could use additional support for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Christian Kirk is a likely cut candidate, and the Gabriel Davis signing never made much sense outside of Trent Baalke’s vision. Even if he’s past his prime, Amari Cooper remains a more reliable option than Davis, and the Jaguars could easily justify offering him a contract.
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