Breaking down PFF’s 4 possible landing spots for Amari Cooper

The Alabama/Nick Saban connection is strong within the New England Patriots

Playing for the New England Patriots is not for everyone, but it would not be a far cry from what Cooper was used to in college. One of Bill Belichick’s most notable proteges is Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who was his defensive coordinator back in the Cleveland Browns days. While Belichick does not draft wide receivers well, Alabama has become Wide Receiver U under Saban.

Though he did not play with him in college, the Patriots are quarterbacked by a former Alabama standout in Mac Jones. While he earned a Pro Bowl nod in his rookie season with New England, Jones will only be as good as the talent around him at the NFL level. Cooper has shown he can elevate the quarterback play around him from his two previous stops. This pairing could work.

However, the Patriots have the worst cap situation of the four teams PFF tabbed as potential landing spots for Cooper at over $7 million. Though adding Cooper helps solve a long unsolvable issue in New England, he is not going to be Jones’ Randy Moss. While this move may make the Patriots slightly better in the overall AFC hierarchy, there is a lot of boom/bust potential with him.

Though he may win more than in Chicago, there are no guarantees Cooper is a fit in New England.