AFC North expert explains how former Steelers rival can recapture his magic as a replacement for wide receiver George Pickens
It might as well be March for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After parting ways with George Pickens, the team is back in the free agent (and potentially trade) market as they search for his replacement. One of those potential suitors is five-time Pro Bowl WR Amari Cooper… Can Amari Cooper replace George Pickens? Cooper has been […]
It might as well be March for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After parting ways with George Pickens, the team is back in the free agent (and potentially trade) market as they search for his replacement.
One of those potential suitors is five-time Pro Bowl WR Amari Cooper…
Can Amari Cooper replace George Pickens?
Cooper has been a Pro Bowler for three different teams during his NFL tenure, most recently with the Cleveland Browns in 2023. He has been one of the most consistent threats in the league when healthy.
But Cleveland decided to move on midseason in 2024, trading him to the Buffalo Bills where he didn't exactly live up to his resume. Or at least not in the box score.
To gauge whether he's over the hill, or just wasn't a fit in Buffalo, I reached out to one of the best on the Browns beat…
Trading for Amari Cooper from the Dallas Cowboys was one of the best moves the Cleveland Browns have made in my lifetime. Cleveland gave up a late-round pick for Cooper, who went on to become the best wide receiver the franchise had seen in a long time, delivering back-to-back standout seasons in 2022 and 2023. He recorded a career-high 1,250 receiving yards in 2023 and developed strong chemistry with Joe Flacco.
However, things fell apart for Cooper and the Browns during the 2024 season. He struggled with dropped passes and was no longer the same player he had been the year before. After just six games, the Browns decided to trade him. Cooper didn’t find much success in his eight games with the Buffalo Bills either.
Turning 30 can be a turning point for wide receivers, and that appears to be the case for Cooper. Still, the former Pro Bowler remains a hard worker and a positive presence when the team is winning. While his days as a No. 1 option are behind him, he can still provide value as a secondary weapon.
– Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Cleveland Browns
And that's all the Steelers really need: a secondary weapon, a route runner, a stable veteran, and someone who can provide leadership in the locker room. At this point in his career, no one is going to confuse Amari Cooper with George Pickens.
But when you have DK Metcalf as your number one target, he doesn't have to be. He simply needs to be able to get open over the middle.
Cooper seems to still have that in him.
