By Anthony Licciardi
The Cleveland Browns sold their soul for a quarterback.
Being interested in upgrading at the most important position in football is one thing. Maintaining that interest after even a single sexual misconduct allegation is another. Conducting a sham investigation to make the front office feel better about the move it’s making teeters on making a mockery of both the organization and the sport.
Personally, I hope the Browns return to the dark cellar of irrelevance they’ve recently peered out of. The Houston Texans can kick rocks, too.
Nevertheless, the NFL rolls on, primed with highlights, commercials, and characters to make you forget about the worst parts of the league.
Deshaun Watson will miss a significant portion of the 2022 season. If Cleveland wants to remain competitive, their passing offense, headlined by offseason acquisition Amari Cooper, will have to be up to the task.
Amari Cooper’s health and consistency are key for Cleveland.
If Jacoby Brissett is taking snaps under center for the Browns, it may be a long year ahead. Without a standout season from their X-Factor, Cooper, it could feel even longer.
Since being drafted by the (then) Oakland Raiders in 2015, Cooper has put up five 1,000 yard seasons and has scored at least five touchdowns every single year. Last year, though, Cooper missed some time. In 2021, Cooper tallied 68 catches, 865 yards, and eight scores.
Holding one of the largest wide receiver cap hits in the sport and playing for a front office less aggressive than the Baltimore Orioles, Cooper’s time as a Dallas Cowboy came to a close. Now a Brown, Cooper will have the opportunity to see a significant uptick in his target share.
Of course, in order for that to happen, he’ll need to stay healthy. Cooper hasn’t missed large stretches of games, but he’s got a laundry list of minor injuries that has kept him away from playing at 100%. If he’s going to produce surplus value at his cap hit, being healthy is priority No. 1.
We know he’s one of the game’s natural separators and a nuisance for any opposing cornerback. But now, he’s facing doubts. He’s earning big-time money but doesn’t boast a big-time target share. Something will have to give.
Right now, DraftKings has the Browns at +275 to win the AFC North, meaning $100 would land you $275 in profit if it were to hit. To have fairly decent odds with an impending suspension at quarterback says something about the supporting cast at hand. In the passing game, that starts with Cooper.