20 NFL bold predictions after the 2022 NFL Draft
By Randy Gurzi
9. Amari Cooper has a career-best season in Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns were winners in the recent Amari Cooper trade — and it looks even better the more wideouts get traded.
For a mere fifth-round pick (and a swap of sixth-rounders), Cleveland secured the rights to Cooper from Dallas. Some will say his contract is the reason why they got such a deal but the money he’s due is nothing compared to what some other teams forked out — especially when you throw in the compensation they surrendered.
Las Vegas, for example, gave up a pick in Round 1 as well as one in Round 2 for Davante Adams, then gave him a five-year, $141.25 million extension. As for Tyreek Hill, the Miami Dolphins paid him $120 million over four years after sending a first, second, and fourth this season as well as a fourth and sixth in 2023 for Hill.
Even Marquise Brown netted a first when a third was added to the deal and A.J. Brown cost the Eagles a Round 1 pick and he too will want a huge extension. All that means the $20 million-per-year average for Cooper is beyond fair — and the fifth-round pick was a steal.
It will look like even more of a robbery when Cooper turns in his best season ever. In Cleveland, he’s the main guy with only Donovan Peoples-Jones serving as an experienced receiver alongside him.
With Deshaun Watson there — and Jacoby Brissett in case of a suspension — Cooper should have no problem seeing the ball come his way. And he’s got the talent to do a lot of damage with volume targets.