New England Patriots rumors: Why team should be in on Amari Cooper

With reports surfacing that the Oakland Raiders are shopping wide receiver Amari Cooper, should the New England Patriots be a suitor?

Following a 43-40 thrilling win over the Kanas City Chiefs, the New England Patriots offense is on the right track to becoming a potent attack with Tom Brady at the helm and both Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon added to the mix.

With Rob Gronkowski doing Gronk things along with the production from running backs James White and Sony Michel, the Patriots offense appears to be good enough. But, how much more potent would they be if they added another outside threat?

According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport on Tuesday, the Oakland Raiders are reportedly shopping 24-year-old wide receiver Amari Cooper for a first-round pick. The price is high, but the Patriots should be all over a possible trade if that rumor is true.

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Typically, where there is smoke there if fire when it comes to a team shopping a player, even when that team denies it. After trading Kahil Mack to the Chicago Bears anything is possible with John Gruden and the Raiders.

"“The Raiders have had some conversations about potentially trading him,” Rapopport reported per NFL.com. “My understanding is that they have asked for a first-round pick in exchange for Amari Cooper, which seems incredibly significant. And it might make it difficult if not impossible to trade him.”"

With the chest of draft picks the New England Patriots have next season, they would have an advantage over most teams. With their desperation for a receiver not as great as it was a few weeks ago, a first-round pick for Cooper is definitely a high price. But, what about one of their second-round picks and throw in a player like Phillip Dorsett?

This season, Amari Cooper has 22 catches for 280 yards and has been inconsistent in the Oakland Raiders offense in his four-year career. A first-round pick in 2015, the two-time Pro Bowler exploded onto the NFL scene with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. His best year was in 2016 when he racked up 83 receptions for 1153 yards and five touchdowns.

Given that production was just a couple years ago, Cooper is worth taking a shot if the price is right. We all know that Bill Belichick would spend a high-round draft pick on a receiver like he did with Brandin Cooks. Making a splash and adding another outside receiving threat is something Belichick isn’t known to do but imagine the possibilities.

An offense with both Josh Gordon and Amari Cooper as the outside receivers, Julian Edelman in the slot, Rob Gronkowski at tight end. Tom Brady would be in dreamland on the field at the age of 41.

Thinking about the future

Offensive dominance aside, the main reason for the New England Patriots to take a shot on Cooper is for the future and in case Gordon doesn’t make it through the season. With Chris Hogan being on the last year of his deal and Edelman in his early 30s, the team has a lack of options at the receiver spot beyond the 2018 season.

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A young, talented wide receiver like Amari Cooper who already has experience in the league would help solve some of that problem. The money this season would be cheap enough to add him this season. The downside of a possible deal might be the fifth-year option the Raiders exercised this past April which tallies $13.924 million. With that number being as big as it is, the Patriots may be turned off by the contract and not particularly the player.

But, you never know when it comes to Bill Belichick and the Patriots. We all know what happened the last time the Oakland Raiders traded a big wide receiver to New England.

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