Amari Cooper Shares Bold Desires About His Browns Future

Cooper showed up to the team's training camp after earning a re-worked contract
Browns top wide receiver Amari Cooper talks to the media following the first day of training camp at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulpher Springs, W. Va.
Browns top wide receiver Amari Cooper talks to the media following the first day of training camp at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulpher Springs, W. Va. / Spencer German
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The Browns didn't want to open up training camp without top wide receiver Amari Cooper.

So despite a few weeks of uncertainty surrounding his status with the team, the two sides found a middle ground. By guaranteeing the entirety of the $20 million owed to Cooper in 2024 and tacking on an extra $5 million in incentives, the Browns got their top wideout to show up to camp on time.

Admittedly, it wasn't everything Cooper wanted in a deal. But for now, it was enough.

"Obviously I wanted more guarantees in the contract, just because I feel like I've earned it," he explained. "But you can't always get what you wish for all the time, but it's definitely noted. If I have to go earn it, that's what I'll do."

If Cooper had if his way, the team would have added a few more years on the deal. Entering his age 30 season though, Browns general manager Andrew Berry decided against an extension for Cooper. Instead he did enough to get Cooper to attend camp, without any promises beyond this season.

That leaves plenty of uncertainty about his future with the franchise. If it was up to Cooper, he'd finish his career in Brown and Orange.

"Yeah, I would [like to finish my career here]," the five-time Pro Bowler said. I'm really the type of guy, I don't really like change. I mean, if change happens, which a lot of times it inevitably does, you have to be able to adjust and adapt to any situation. So I'm very adaptable, but at the same time, I don't necessarily like the change. So, yeah, I want to be here."

The Alabama product is plenty comfortable in Cleveland. In his first two seasons he became the first Browns wideout to post back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

He's been a perfect fit for Cleveland not just from an on-the-field standpoint where he's developed great chemistry with star quarterback Deshaun Watson. But also as someone who sets the tone for the rest of the team. For those reasons many thought the Browns would find a way to reward Cooper with an actual extension to keep everything simpatico.

"Like I said before, I definitely want to be here," Cooper reiterated. "It's been great here so far, and like I said before, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I like the guys, I like the camaraderie of the team. I like Deshaun, I like Kevin. He likes to get me the ball, so I'm fine with that. So yeah, I definitely want to be here."


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Spencer German

SPENCER GERMAN

Spencer German is a contributor to the Northeast Ohio cluster of sites, including Cavs Insider, Cleveland Baseball Insider and most notably Browns Digest. He also works as a fill-in host on Cleveland Sports Radio, 92.3 The Fan, one of the Browns radio affiliate stations in Cleveland. Despite being a Cleveland transplant, Spencer has enjoyed making Northeast Ohio home ever since he attended college locally at John Carroll University, where he graduated in 2013.