Did you see Amari Cooper’s large recreation for the Buffalo Payments on Sunday towards Seattle?
Neither did I.
Certain, the Payments stomped the Seahawks 31-10 on the street and have an unbelievable 3½-game lead within the AFC East, however enable me to critique Cooper for a second. As a result of the well-traveled star extensive receiver stated he was “undoubtedly prepared for an elevated position — that’s why they traded for me” after going for 4 catches, 66 yards, and a landing in his crew debut Oct. 20.
On Sunday, Cooper’s snap depend doubled — from a mere 19 to 38 — but he completed the day with a grand complete of 1 reception for 3 yards on two targets.
In a twist of irony, on that different goal, Cooper was accountable for Josh Allen’s first interception of the season. He focused Cooper on a slant route; Cooper tripped, and the ball sailed proper right into a cornerback’s fingers.
Within the Extensive Receivers Arms Race of 2024, the place DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, and Cooper have all modified uniforms and extra might comply with earlier than the Nov. 5 commerce deadline, your mileage could differ on which guys will truly star for his or her new groups. (I warned that chasing Adams can be a idiot’s errand for the awful New York Jets earlier this month.)
However any teasing apart, I’m not saying that the Payments’ deal for Cooper was a poor thought. Actually, he was a discount: the Payments solely inherited $806,667 of remaining wage on Cooper’s expiring contract, in keeping with Spotrac. Buffalo goes to return out a giant winner, even when Cooper himself doesn’t have thrilling stat traces that assist him get his subsequent contract.
Right here’s what Cooper actually did to assist the Payments on Sunday: He opened up the sphere for his teammates.
The specter of Cooper as a top-tier NFL receiver pulled some defenders’ consideration away from Khalil Shakir and rookie Keon Coleman, who had profession highs of 9 and 5 catches, respectively.
Shakir, a brief and speedy weapon I’ve all the time favored, racked up 107 yards and is already approaching career-high totals throughout the board midway by means of his third NFL season. Coleman, the thirty third decide in April’s draft, adopted a 125-yard recreation final week towards Tennessee with 70 yards and a rating at Seattle. They’ve the crew’s solely two 100-yard receiving performances of the yr up to now.
Allen most likely doesn’t get sufficient credit score for elevating the extent of his pass-catchers, however after Buffalo traded away Stefon Diggs, the crew’s receiver corps was fairly nameless. Give opposing defenses only one thing more to consider, and it springs guys like Shakir, Coleman, and the tight ends.
“Because the season goes on everybody begins to know what their position is. That’s part of the sport,” Shakir stated. “… However I all the time say this: At any level in that receiver room, anyone’s quantity can get referred to as on any given play and make a play. Our room is so dynamic, and I actually consider it’s the most effective within the NFL.”
The place does that go away Cooper, whose fantasy soccer managers aren’t practically as joyful because the Payments’ entrance workplace at the moment?
Though he’s gone from enjoying with Deshaun Watson to Allen, I personally wouldn’t guess on Cooper having the sort of explosive video games he had after the Raiders traded him to the Cowboys throughout the 2018 season. First, he must play greater than 50 % of the offense’s snaps, which, in equity, could also be across the nook. However he’s a man who has had hot-and-cold seasons up to now.
Cooper, 30, will likely be a free agent in 2025. As he thinks towards the longer term and wonders who his subsequent crew will likely be, after all it is smart that he’d agitate for a much bigger position within the Buffalo offense — he’s making an attempt to safe another bag. The Payments don’t essentially want to present that position to him.
So whereas the Payments are predestined for one more playoff berth, I’m to see how the offense seems to be from week to week on their means there, and if Cooper “understands what his position is,” outgrows it, or begins to specific dissatisfaction.