Analyzing the Arizona Cardinals’ 2025 1st round pick, Walter Nolen
The Republic’s Theo Mackie and Greg Moore discuss the Arizona Cardinals’ 2025 first-round draft pick, Walter Nolen.
Do the Arizona Cardinals need to add a veteran wide receiver before the start of the 2025 NFL season?
The answer to that question is yes, at least according to several NFL writers, who list Arizona as a potential landing spot for veteran free agent Amari Cooper, who had 44 catches for 547 yards and four touchdowns with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills last season.
Would Cooper, 30, be a good fit as an extra target for quarterback Kyler Murray on the Cardinals after the team elected not to draft a receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Check out what NFL writers are saying about Cooper’s potential fit in Arizona.
USA TODAY Sports: Cardinals among best landing spots for Amari Cooper
Jacob Camenker writes: “The Cardinals are another team that was expected to add receiver depth in the 2025 NFL Draft but didn’t. The team currently has Michael Wilson, Zay Jones and Greg Dortch to complement Marvin Harrison Jr., so adding Cooper to battle for a starting job could prove beneficial to Kyler Murray.”
NFL.com: Cardinals among best fits for Amari Cooper
Kevin Patra writes: “The Cardinals haven’t added a legitimate second fiddle to Marvin Harrison Jr. this offseason, seemingly content to ride with Zay Jones, Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch and free agent Simi Fehoko in 2025. Signing Cooper on the cheap would give Kyler Murray a veteran weapon who can win on the boundary. Cooper might not be as speedy as he used to be, but he could take on some of the vertical clear-out routes that Harrison ran last year, opening up the second-year player to eat in the intermediate level.”
Clutch Points: Cardinals could be ideal fit with Amari Cooper
It writes: “Murray has shown flashes of brilliance but needs consistent pass-catching support to take the next leap. Cooper, even in a reduced role, could bring stability to the passing game and provide Arizona with a dependable red-zone threat. His ability to separate on short and intermediate routes also aligns well with the kind of rhythm offense Murray thrives in. Arizona still has financial flexibility and a need at wideout. Signing Cooper to a one-year prove-it deal could be a win-win scenario: low risk, high potential reward. With few impactful pass catchers left on the NFL free agency board, this could be one of the smartest late additions of the offseason. If the Cardinals want to elevate their offense in 2025, Cooper may be the missing piece they didn’t know they needed.”
Sports Illustrated: Would Amari Cooper make sense for Cardinals?
Alex D’Agostino writes: “Cooper can still produce. Don’t let a couple of years in a flailing Cleveland Browns offense and an unconventional Buffalo Bills offense tell you otherwise. He’s 30 years old, yes, but with plenty of athleticism and ability to separate. His production has only recently dipped, as he racked up 1,250 yards in 2023, the second of back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons dating back to 2022. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler, has seven career 1,000-yard campaigns, and has found the end zone five or more times in every season he’s played with the exception of 2024. He graded out around league average per PFF, but simply wasn’t in the best situation to produce.”
A to Z Sports: Amari Cooper to Cardinals makes a lot of sense
Nick Roesch writes: “The Cardinals need depth at wide receiver, and Cooper would be a legitimate No. 2 opposite Harrison Jr. Cooper was dinged up a bit after he was traded to Buffalo midseason, and could never really settle into the Bills’ offense. However, he was a 1,000-yard WR in each of the two years previous, and has eclipsed that mark seven times overall during his career. If the Cardinals sign him soon, Cooper will have the entire summer to get accoladed with the team and be prepared for a bounce back season.”
Fansided: Amari Cooper could be solution to Cardinals’ receiver woes
Chuck Bausman writes: “If the Cardinals think they need more wide receiver help, they should consider Cooper. If they believe they need another wide receiver, they should be on the phone with Cooper this minute, booking a flight to Sky Harbor and bringing out the fine silverware for lunch.”
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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