The Philadelphia Eagles lost a lot this offseason but it’s still tough to find where they could find an upgrade in free agency. The departures of Josh Sweat and Milton Williams stung on defense but the Eagles have plug-and-play replacements in Jalyx Hunt and Moro Ojomo. Mekhi Becton’s defection to the Los Angeles Chargers also hurt but the Eagles have limited options in a guard market that feels dried up.
With most of the foundation of last year’s Super Bowl-winning team in place, there isn’t an obvious area for an upgrade. But the Eagles could look toward a former division rival to make it happen and his arrival would be a way to end March on a high note.
Eagles Could Poach Former Division Rival Amari Cooper in Free Agency
Amari Cooper is still a free agent and he could be a significant addition to the Eagles’ passing attack. The 30-year-old had a disappointing 2024 season catching 44 passes for 547 yards and four touchdowns while splitting time between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills. But there could be a few reasons why things didn’t pan out.
Cooper was in a wasteland in Cleveland, spending most of last season catching passes from Deshaun Watson. While the team turned to Jameis Winston after Watson tore his Achilles tendon, Cooper wasn’t there to reap the benefits that Jerry Jeudy did, getting traded to the Bills after catching 24 passes for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns over six games.
Things didn’t go much better in Buffalo as Cooper caught 20 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns, but his metrics tell a different story. Cooper posted a higher Pro Football Focus receiving grade in Buffalo (72.2) than he did in Cleveland and his 1.82 yards per route run was a significant improvement over the 1.08 mark he posted with the Browns. Add in a wrist injury and learning a new playbook and there were several factors standing in the way of a productive season.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the Eagles had their own concerns. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith were both productive but each missed four games due to injury. The Eagles also traded for Jahan Dotson with hopes he could man the other receiver spot but he caught just 19 passes for 216 yards while playing the entire season, putting his future with the Eagles in doubt. Add in trade rumors revolving around tight end Dallas Goedert and Philadelphia could use some viable insurance.
Eagles fans are familiar with Cooper from his time with the Dallas Cowboys and he’s only one season removed from posting a career-high 1,250 yards during a Pro Bowl campaign with the Browns in 2023. While it may take some getting used to, Cooper could look great in green and help the Eagles end March heading in the right direction.