Why ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says Bills are 'intrigued' regarding Amari Cooper's free agency fate

Wide receiver Amari Cooper is set to be a sought-after unrestricted free agent. Did the Bills see enough in 11 games to keep him in Buffalo?
Dec 29, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (18) makes a catch for a touchdown.
Dec 29, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (18) makes a catch for a touchdown. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The Bills picked up Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns halfway through the season. Over the next eight regular season games and three playoff games, Cooper proved to be a capable, if underused, wide receiver with 26 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns -- good for a 68.3 PFF grade. But given Cooper prolific history and potential price tag, it left many wondering if Cooper is worth keeping.

While Cooper's made it clear he doesn't care about stats - he simply wants to win - it appears that the Bills are also interested in his possible return.. In ranking the NFL's top free agents of 2025, and listing Cooper at #18 overall and the third best wide receiver, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler contends that the Bills are definitely "intrigued" at the possibility of a Cooper return,

"The Bills have been happy with Cooper, despite low production compared with past seasons," Fowler wrote. "He has been a good team player in Buffalo, and the Bills are intrigued by getting him into a full offseason program with quarterback Josh Allen."

It's clear that Cooper, at age 31, is showing signs of wear and tear. He may not be the same guy who can go off for 200+ yards a game anymore. But it doesn't appear that's what the Bills need as they develop rookie WR Keon Coleman, the emergence of Khalil Shakir, and their "everybody eats" philosophy.

Related: Josh Allen reiterates Bills ‘everybody eats’ offense after WR Amari Cooper’s debut

Khalil Shakir
Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship game. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

And it's not like Cooper is done. He's a highly-ranked free agent because he's still got gas left in the tank.

Cooper has fit right into the Bills team-first mentality - the rare wide receiver who truly doesn't seem to care about the number of targets he sees or catches he makes. He just wants to win. It remains to be seen where he'll end up in 2025 but Buffalo is certainly smart to be intrigued.

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Brian Letscher
BRIAN LETSCHER

A Michigan native, Brian graduated from the University of Michigan in another century, where he earned a degree in economics and a Rose Bowl Championship ring while playing football for the Wolverines under Head Coach Gary Moeller. Brian went on to coach Division 1A football for several years before becoming a full-time writer and actor while maintaining an unhealthy interest in sports. He is currently developing a scripted television series, THOSE WHO STAY, based on a series of historical fiction articles he wrote about Bo Schembechler's Michigan football program as they struggle to unite and win the championship - which requires beating #1 Ohio State - during the tumultuous civil rights and anti-war movements of 1969.