Prior to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk finalizing his contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers this preseason, several teams had shown interest in acquiring him. Among these teams were the Cleveland Browns, who were rumored to consider trading Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper as part of a potential deal.
At the height of these rumors, Cooper made a cryptic Instagram post saying, “lol I wouldn’t mind at all,” which fueled speculation that he was open to a trade to the 49ers. However, Cooper addressed these speculations during a recent media session in Cleveland.
“The media thrives on sensationalism, so feel free to interpret my comments however you wish,” Cooper stated, deflecting any direct connection between his post and the trade rumors.
While Cooper refrains from explicitly stating he desired a move to San Francisco, it is well-known that the 49ers are a formidable team. They have secured a spot in four of the past five NFC Championship Games and appeared in two of the last five Super Bowls. Nonetheless, Cooper avoids discussing his potential interest in joining such a successful franchise.
Regarded as one of the more underappreciated receivers in the league, Cooper boasts seven career seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards. At 30, he is coming off a standout year with 1,250 yards. With a healthy Deshaun Watson and Nick Chubb, Cooper has a chance to raise the Browns’ performance beyond just the first round of the playoffs this season.