Amari Cooper is not the WR solution NY Jets fans believe he is

The free-agent market is still home to a number of big-name veterans, and some New York Jets fans have been quick to suggest that their favorite team should make a move. One name that continues to pop up is Amari Cooper, the five-time Pro Bowler who remains unsigned as we near the end of May.

The suggestion makes sense on the surface. The Jets have a glaring need at wide receiver behind Garrett Wilson, and Cooper, at least in name value, represents the most accomplished option still available.

With post-June 1st cap relief coming and uncertainty surrounding the Jets' wide receiver room, the fan-driven push makes sense. But the truth is, a reunion between Cooper and the AFC East — let alone a pairing with the Jets — doesn’t make much sense for either side.

The version of Cooper fans are envisioning simply doesn’t exist anymore, and bringing him to Florham Park would run counter to everything this new regime has done over the last few months.

Amari Cooper doesn't make any sense for the NY Jets

The version of Amari Cooper that once torched defenses as a perennial Pro Bowler and 1,000-yard receiver isn’t the one currently sitting on the open market.

Cooper may have a big name, but his performance last season suggests he’s no longer a reliable starting-caliber wide receiver, let alone a WR2 on a team trying to evaluate young talent.

In his 11 total games with the Bills (regular season and playoffs), Cooper had three or fewer catches in eight of them. His 13.8% drop rate and 39.1 Pro Football Focus drop grade ranked among the worst in the league. He also finished 106th out of 116 qualified receivers in ESPN’s overall receiver score.

Cooper’s brief stint in Buffalo was especially underwhelming. Acquired midseason in a trade with the Browns, Cooper caught just 20 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns in eight regular-season games.

He was a complete non-factor for much of his time with the Bills, despite playing alongside one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. If the Jets are looking to upgrade their receiving corps, signing a soon-to-be 31-year-old on the decline wouldn’t exactly accomplish that.

More importantly, Cooper doesn’t align with the current organizational vision. General manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn made a point to only sign younger players with room to grow this offseason. Their free-agent approach wasn't a coincidence.

The Jets currently have just four players over 30 on their entire roster. They aren’t trying to patch together a “win-now” team like in recent years. They’re building something long-term, and that involves evaluating what they already have, not blocking young talent for a short-term Band-Aid.

Would Cooper be an upgrade over Allen Lazard or Josh Reynolds? Possibly, but that’s hardly the point. And that's also an extremely low bar to clear.

The 2025 season is about building a foundation and identifying who deserves to be part of the Jets' next contending core. Taking snaps away from players like Tyler Johnson, Malachi Corley, Arian Smith, or even Xavier Gipson to give them to a declining veteran chasing one more contract just doesn’t fit the vision.

And truthfully, Cooper probably doesn’t want to be here either, not when there are contenders out there still looking for receiving help. It just doesn't make sense for either party involved.

Amari Cooper’s name value might still carry some weight, but he just doesn't fit with the 2025 Jets. This team is focused on the future, and Cooper belongs in the past.

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