Which Browns Players Could Step Up in Amari Cooper’s Absence?
The Browns organization is very slowly preparing to not have Amari Cooper as part of the main receiving core this season. While there is no indication that the Cleveland wide receiver will hold out in 2024 or demand a trade, little to no progress has been reported on his potential contract extension. There is no question that Amari Cooper was the favorite target for almost all of the 37 Browns QBs that participated in the 2023 season. ((Only slight exaggeration on the number there.)) Many fans recall his standout performance against the Houston Texans in the 2nd half of the season that resulted in 11 catches, 265 yards, 2 TD's, and a team win. Cooper joined Terrell Owens as the only receiver in NFL history to record 200 yard games for three different franchises. The other being the Dallas Cowboys and former Oakland turned Las Vegas Raiders.
Along with this incredible performance, Cooper has been a staple of the Browns passing game ever since he was acquired in a trade from the Dallas Cowboys in 2022. His incredible play and contribution to team success in just a few seasons has earned him the title as one of the best Browns wide receivers since their new franchise began in 1999 , if not in franchise history. Fans and national media members now question if Cleveland's football team can continue to build off this success, even without the play of Cooper. There is also a bigger question at stake: will Deshaun Watson be able to give his best performance without the help of his No. 1 target? Let's take a look at some of the players WFNY is predicting to shine if the Browns are without Amari Cooper in 2024:
David Njoku - projected TE1
The talent potential and love from the fan base continues to grow each year with David Njoku. The Browns franchise tight end is now entering his 8th season in the National Football League and coming off his best career season in 2023. Njoku managed to collect 81 catches, 882 yards, and 6 TDs for Cleveland. The late resurgence of former Super Bowl winning QB Joe Flacco had a huge contribution in Njoku's successful year. These were all career highs for the former Miami Hurricane, and he is only looking to build off his stellar season. Although Njoku is now considered a seasoned veteran in Cleveland and around the league, he is still only reaching the top of his potential at the young age of 27 years old. Njoku's talent cannot be understated when analyzing who is competing with him for targets on the offensive side of the football. Many players can oddly enough disappear in a very talented offense, but Njoku continues to shine when the ball comes his way.
"The Chief" will once again have to be fighting for targets this season due to newly acquired talent and the resurgence of another star player. One advantage Njoku had was the lack of production from the ground game, having to rely on a pass-heavy offense in the 2nd half of 2023. Not only will Njoku fight for targets in 2024, there will be a lot less to go around. It is no secret that Nick Chubb is the heart and soul of not only the Cleveland Browns offense but the franchise as a whole. Slowly incorporating the running game back into Stefanski's offensive game plan is destined to happen as Chubb slowly returns from his significant knee surgery. Inputting the ground game back into the offense will limit targets for any pass catcher, but look for Njoku to be the top red zone target this season as he has been in the past. He will look to build off his strong campaign in 2023.
Cedric Tillman - projected WR5
While many expect Elijiah Moore to be the WR3 option for this team, do not forget about the potential of Cedric Tillman and the love for him in the Browns front office. General Manager Andrew Berry and Head Coach Kevin Stefanski have raved about the Browns second year wideout all offseason. As the highest selection for the Browns in the 2023 NFL Draft, the hopes and potential for Cedric Tillman are very high no matter where he was selected. When it comes to the prototypical WR build, Tillman is the best physically built one for Cleveland.
According to ESPN, the young wideout stands at a whopping 6’3 and 215 pounds, making him the most physically gifted WR the Browns have. Tillman has the disadvantage of a very talented and veteran offensive skill group. Between Cooper, Jeudy, Moore, and others, earning your reps for the Browns has become very difficult as of late. Browns fans and GM Andrew Berry would love nothing more than to see this young playmaker become a staple of the passing game.
Jerry Jeudy - preojected WR2
Many eggs have been put into Jerry Jeudy's basket after being acquired via trade and signing a significant 3-year $52.5M contract extension with the Browns. General Manager Andrew Berry and his staff have done a tremendous job of finding talent in recent NFL Drafts, especially through later-round draft picks after most of the 1st selections in recent drafts were traded away. Players such as Martin Emerson & Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah were tremendous late-round finds and are now some of the premier players of this defense. The Browns GM has not had the same luck when it comes to pass catchers on the offensive side of the ball. Instead of hoping to find the next young face of the Browns WR group through the draft, Berry has brought in highly talented players such as Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore. Jeudy was a former Alabama Crimson Tide football star and 1st round pick of the Denver Broncos. After a rollercoaster start to his NFL career due to the drama in Denver, Jeudy looks to redefine himself in his fresh start with the Cleveland Browns.
Through his first few seasons, Jeudy has shown flashes of his very talented Crimson Tide self that earned an early-round selection. The young WR has also had flashes of disappointment that resulted in social media and other enraged fans to ultimately drive Jeudy out of Denver. Cleveland gives him a change of scenery in a higher-powered offense than he is used to. Through their recent experiment of acquiring Russell Wilson, Jeudy was victim of being blamed for the teams’ inability to be successful on offense despite concerning decisions by the franchise as a whole. Nevertheless, it was time for the young WR to find a change of scenery before it was too late. Now, Jeudy gets the chance to finally prove himself as a WR1 in this league. With the looming age and contract of Amari Cooper, it is no secret that the Browns are in search of their next young and talented WR of the future. Jeudy will have every opportunity to prove himself as the answer to the franchise’s question after his expensive contract extension.