The New England Patriots need to upgrade their offensive weapons in the coming weeks. Tom Brady is a free agent, and the Patriots need to do something to make Brady want to come back. Even if he leaves, there’s no way that Jarrett Stidham or another free agent quarterback can succeed with the current roster. While the Patriots are reportedly focused on trade targets, the best option might be signing Amari Cooper in free agency.
Why the New England Patriots Could Sign Amari Cooper
The Fit
Bill Belichick typically doesn’t spend big on free agents, but he’s made exceptions over the years. In 2017, the head coach and de-facto general manager signed Stephon Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million contract, making him the richest defensive player in franchise history. That move obviously paid off, as Gilmore played a large role in winning Super Bowl LIII and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2019.
New England’s lack of dynamic playmakers essentially ended their season last year. With Rob Gronkowski retired, the Patriots didn’t have a single reliable weapon outside of a banged-up Julian Edelman. Edelman did everything he could to power the offense, but he couldn’t do it alone.
Cooper has the ideal skill set to come into New England and bring the offense back to the league’s elite. The former first-round pick is one of the NFL’s best route runners and can get open at all levels of the field. Cooper’s ability to stretch the field and make big plays should open up underneath throwing lanes, which will only make life easier for Edelman and James White.
Additionally, signing Cooper also increases the odds of bringing Tom Brady back to Foxboro. Letting Brady hit the open market is obviously dangerous, but it’s hard to imagine a world where Brady signs early in free agency. New England still represents Brady’s best chance to win a Super Bowl, as long as they upgrade the pass-catching arsenal. Cooper should be the top receiver on the market, and bringing in someone like him should make a return an easy choice for Tom Brady.
The Dallas Cowboys Screwed Up the Amari Cooper Situation
Normally, a player as talented as Amari Cooper would never hit the open market. However, thanks to some favorable timing, Cooper should be able to reach unrestricted free agency. Dak Prescott is also a free agent, and the Cowboys are running out of time to agree to an extension. The Cowboys won’t let Prescott reach the open market and will receive the franchise tag. Teams can only use the franchise tag on one player per year, so Cooper should be available, barring something unforeseen.
Of course, just because Cooper reaches free agency doesn’t mean that he won’t come back to Dallas. Even after using the franchise tag on Dak Prescott, the Cowboys should still have more cap space than the New England Patriots. If it turns into a bidding war, Dallas will probably win.
That said, there is a chance this doesn’t turn into a bidding war. If Jerry Jones and the Cowboys were willing to pay whatever it took to sign Cooper, then he’d already be under contract. The definitely exists a line the Cowboys won’t cross, and the way Cooper’s 2019 season ended might imply that the two sides are headed for a divorce.
In the final minutes of a must-week Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys benched Cooper for journeyman Tavon Austin. Both Cooper and the Cowboys said this decision wasn’t injury-related, which is perplexing, to say the least. If the Patriots are willing to pay up, they can probably bring Cooper to New England.
Bill Belichick Wants A Wide Receiver
Historically speaking, Bill Belichick isn’t one to invest heavily in the wide receiver position. However, a deeper dive shows that Belichick is turning over a new leaf and wants a difference-maker at the position. While the results aren’t there, Belichick has tried to add a star for the majority of the past three seasons.
In 2017, New England parted with their first-round pick for wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Cooks had a good season in New England, recording 65 receptions for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns. The Patriots tried to extend him, but Cooks wanted a market-value contract. Rather than hang on to him when they knew they couldn’t afford him, New England sent him away for a better first-round pick than the one they gave up.
Cooks wasn’t an outlier, as Belichick spent the entire 2019 offseason trying to upgrade the wide receivers. The Patriots reportedly offered a first-round pick for Antonio Brown, but the Steelers refused to do business with their longtime rival. Additionally, New England tried to get Odell Beckham, but the Browns offered more than the Patriots could. On top of that, Belichick tried to get Adam Humphries, Cole Beasley, and Golden Tate into Foxboro, but missed on each guy.
With no other alternative, Belichick turned to the draft and selected N’Keal Harry in the first round. Midway through 2019, Belichick traded a second-round pick for Mohamed Sanu, arguably the best receiver on the market.
Bill Belichick is trying to address a need at wide receiver, and Cooper is the best option on the market. As previously mentioned, the Patriots will pay market value for worthy players at premium positions. Cooper certainly fits that description and could be Belichick’s latest big-money investment.
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