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Turns out no other team will get the chance.
The Eagles today announced they have Cooper to a five-year contract. According to multiple reports, the deal is worth up to $25 million with $10 million guaranteed. Specifically, according to Florio, Cooper gets a $4 million signing bonus, $4 million in salary guaranteed for skill, injury, and salary cap, and $2 million in 2015 salary guaranteed for injury only.
The $2 million injury guarantee converts to a full guarantee on the first day of the 2015 league year.
After last summer's incident, Cooper took a brief break from the team but returned to have a breakout season -- thanks in part to a torn ACL suffered by Jeremy Maclin in late July. Cooper served as the primary deep threat during Nick Foles' second-half emergence.
In his first year as a full-time starter in 2013, the 26-year old Cooper set career highs in receptions (47), receiving yards (835) and touchdowns (eight). In addition, the four-year veteran ranked third in the NFL in yards per reception (17.8) and became just the second player in Eagles history to accumulate five receiving touchdowns over a two-game span after hauling in three touchdowns at Oakland and two at Green Bay last November.
Lauded for his unique blend of size, athleticism and toughness, the 6-3, 222-pound Cooper has been a valuable component of the Eagles offense since he was selected by Philadelphia in fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, appearing in 56 games (25 starts) while registering 93 catches for 1,514 yards and 13 touchdowns.
As NFL.com's Chris Wesseling suggested, there was a question about whether Cooper "fit" Chip Kelly's system well, but the coach is clearly happy with Cooper's contributions.
"Riley is one of the toughest and hardest-working guys in our locker room," Kelly said today. "We talk a lot about how players have to make the most of their opportunities, and he did just that last year. He used his size, strength and speed to make a lot of big plays for our team and I'm excited to watch him build upon his success."
Indeed, fantasy owners should assume Cooper will continue to play a role similar to what he did last season -- even if Maclin returns, as expected.
That said, with Cooper and DeSean Jackson signed to lucrative long-terms contracts, the Eagles might be hesitant to go more than one year with Maclin. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Eagles and Maclin were hoping for "big progress" in their ongoing talks over the next two days. There's still optimism on that front, with Philadelphia Inquirer staffer Jeff McLane of the opinion a deal with Maclin will be done before the start of the free-agent signing period on March 11.
McLane also reported that Maclin, currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL, likely will sign a one-year "show me" contract to remain with the Eagles, his preferred team.
Whatever the case, Cooper's return gives fantasy owners reason to believe both he and Foles (not to mention Jackson) will continue their productive alliance. Maclin's return would only add to that (although likely at the expense of veteran Jason Avant).