Amari Cooper's wish for more money has been fulfilled.
Cooper and the Browns have agreed to a restructured contract that guarantees his $20 million salary and gives him a raise via $5 million in earnable incentives, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday. The reworked deal also delivered half of his guaranteed salary up front.
Cooper is at the Browns' facility and has reported to camp, Rapoport added.
Anytime one can pocket $10 million, it's a good day, and it's even better news for the Browns, who were facing the possibility of their top receiver holding out entering another important season. Instead, Cooper and Browns general manager Andrew Berry were able to work out a deal, preventing a prolonged absence that began with Cooper's decision to sit out of mandatory minicamp in June.
Cooper is entering the final year of a five-year, $100 million deal originally signed with the Cowboys, who dealt him to the Browns in exchange for a day-three pick and a sixth-round pick swap in a move motivated by salary cap constraints in 2022. Since then, the receiver market has exploded, while Cooper has been nothing but incredibly dependable, catching 150 passes for 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns over two seasons in Cleveland.
Realistically, Cooper is underpaid. Despite finishing 10th in receiving yards in the NFL last season, he ranks outside the top 20 in average annual salary at $20 million per year, bringing sense to why he'd sit out in an effort to receive more money.
At 30 years old, Cooper's last chance to cash in on a multi-year deal was likely now. Instead, he'll take upfront cash and a chance to earn an additional 25% while playing out the remainder of his contract with Deshaun Watson and the Browns