Cleveland Browns WR Amari Cooper had a career year in 2023 at the age of 29 years old.
Cooper tallied a career-high 1,250 receiving yards and had 17.4 yards per catch, which was also a career-high.
The No. 1 wideout in Cleveland is receiving respect from players he has to go up against, that’s when you know you’re high high-caliber player. New York Jets CB Sauce Gardner pointed out Cooper as one of the best in the game on The Pivot Podcast.
"You know who I like, who really like that," Gardner asked the hosts of The Pivot Podcast. "Amari Cooper."
Cooper and Gardner haven’t had to battle it out much yet in their careers since Gardner has only been in the NFL for a couple of seasons. The two have marched up once and that was in the rookie season of Garner, where Cooper caught 10 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
In the end, the Browns ended up losing that game at the hands of a Joe Flacco-led comeback by the Jets.
Cooper isn’t looked at as one of the best in the game likely because of his age and because he doesn’t do the flashy stuff all the time on the field. He is one of the better route runners in the league, so he is a major separator.
While in Cleveland for the past two seasons, Cooper has been a 1,000-yard receiver for both. He’s done it 7-of-9 seasons that he has been a pro.
Gardner is very good at what he does but it didn’t stop him from pointing out another really good player. The two will not see each other in 2024 unless it’s the playoffs, but there are surely some good battles down the line somewhere.
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