Blair: Since entering the NFL in 2015, Cooper has cracked the top 10 in receiving yards just three times (2016, 2019, 2023), never climbing higher than eighth. He’s also quietly become one of the steadier producers in the game, reaching the 1,000-yard mark in seven seasons, putting him in league with veteran pass catchers who are lauded for their reliability; he’s tied with Travis Kelce for second-most such seasons in that span, behind only Mike Evans (nine). 

So while some might look at Cooper’s career averages (74 catches, 1,054 yards and six TD catches per year) and see an underwhelming ceiling, especially for a player drafted fourth overall, I see a nice, safe, high floor — and I wouldn’t overlook the value of such a thing in Cleveland, where high floors in the passing game seem somewhat miraculous, even in the organization’s current era of competitive football. In 2023, with scores of teammates sidelined, Cooper stood tall, becoming the first Browns player to put up consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in franchise history. That kind of security is worth paying for — and celebrating in these rankings.