Browns, WR Amari Cooper agree to restructured contract

Half of that $20 million will be paid out as a signing bonus, ESPN's Adam Schefter adds. Cooper will still enter the coming season as a pending free agent, but the restructure adds to his immediate earning potential while also providing considerable locked in compensation.

Cooper skipped mandatory minicamp and incurred fines in the process as part of his attempts at landing a new (or, as it turns out, upgraded) deal. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said at the time team and player discussed the situation, paving the way for a resolution to be found. A report from June confirmed mutual interest existed for an agreement to be worked out in time for training camp.

With that having now taken place, attention can turn to Cooper’s role in a new-look Browns receiving corps. The 30-year-old has produced as expected during his Cleveland tenure, racking up 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns since 2022. The team acquired Jerry Jeudy via trade this offseason, extending the former Broncos first-rounder on a three-year, $52.5M deal. In spite of that move, Cooper will be counted on to remain the Browns’ No. 1 wideout.

The latter earned four Pro Bowl nods split between his time with the Raiders and Cowboys, and he received his fifth in 2023. Another strong campaign will help Cooper’s bargaining power on a new Browns deal or one sending him to a new team as a free agent. Despite his age, the Alabama product could benefit from the continued surges in the receiver market.

The $20M AAV of Cooper’s 2020 deal has been dwarfed several times over in recent years. The top of the position’s pecking order has now surpassed $30M in a select number of cases. Cooper is unlikely to reach those heights on his next pact, but he could help his case for a higher rate of annual compensation if he manages to produce another strong season this year. In the meantime, he has significant guarantees in place along with a path to new money ahead of his walk year.