Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper did not get a contract extension.
But he did receive a raise for the final year of his contract and a guarantee after not attending minicamp.
Cooper and the Browns agreed to restructure the final year of his five-year, $100 million contract to guarantee the remaining $20 million on the contract and add an additional $5 million to his salary, According to multiple reports.
Cooper missed minicamp in June with an unexcused absence amid a surge in salaries with new contracts for some of the league’s top receivers, including Justin Jefferson (four years, $140 million), AJ Brown (three years, $96 million) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (four years, $120 million).
Cooper, a five-time Pro Bowler, was Cleveland’s most reliable and productive offensive player amid a chaotic 2023 season in which Cleveland had five different starting quarterbacks. Cooper recorded 72 receptions for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. His receiving yardage total ranked 10th in the NFL.
Cooper, 30, is nearing the end of his prime earning years and entering the final year of his contract with no long-term guarantees. The Browns are coming off an 11-6 season that saw them make the playoffs despite instability at the quarterback position.
Starter Deshaun Watson is healthy and expected to return from the shoulder injury that limited him to six games last season. The Browns are projected as a contender for the AFC North crown and beyond.