Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round pick were traded to the Bills for a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round selection.
On October 15, the Buffalo Bills announced that they had reached an agreement with the Cleveland Browns to trade their 2025 third-round pick and 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for Cleveland’s 2025 sixth-round pick and five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Cleveland converted $18.79 million of Cooper’s $20 million basic salary for this season into a signing bonus in March, so Buffalo will only have to spend little more than $806,000 to acquire the former number four overall choice.
The transaction comes only hours after the New York Jets traded for former All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders.
We've agreed to trade for WR Amari Cooper‼️https://t.co/Ilbmxum2sf | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/HUdMM3SaUM
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 15, 2024
Does this trade put the Bills over the top?
The Buffalo Bills have added a crucial piece to their receiving corps by acquiring Amari Cooper. The team has struggled in the passing game, ranking 24th in receiving yards and 29th in receptions through six weeks. Cooper’s arrival aims to address these issues and give the offense a significant boost. Last season, Cooper made the Pro Bowl despite working with a 38-year-old Joe Flacco at quarterback, putting up 72 catches, 1,250 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. With Josh Allen—a much more dynamic, MVP-caliber quarterback—now throwing to him, Cooper has a strong chance of returning to his Pro Bowl form.
The timing of the move aligns with the AFC East’s competitive landscape, especially after the New York Jets traded for Davante Adams. The Bills currently hold a lead over the Jets and Dolphins in the division and need to maintain their momentum. Cooper’s deep-threat ability could be the key to keeping Buffalo at the top, providing the offense with more explosive play potential.
While Cooper’s impact for the postseason is still uncertain, the expectation is that he’ll outperform last year’s playoff performance by Stefon Diggs. In the Bills’ 2024 playoff run, Diggs managed only 10 catches for 73 yards over two games, failing to find the end zone. For Cooper, averaging five receptions and 37 yards per game in the playoffs would already be an improvement. Given his career average of 12.2 yards per reception in the postseason, Cooper’s addition could indeed be the spark Buffalo needs to elevate its offense and make a deeper playoff push.
The Browns are clearly giving up
The trade of Amari Cooper signals that the Cleveland Browns are shifting focus to the future and preparing for life after Deshaun Watson. Moving their top wide receiver while sitting at 1-5 suggests that the team is embracing a rebuild, as trading away a key playmaker is not something typically done by a franchise still aiming for a successful season. With Watson’s struggles and ongoing starting role, it appears the Browns are ready to “embrace the tank” for the rest of the 2024 campaign.
The Browns are constrained financially for the next few years due to Watson’s massive contract, limiting their options in free agency. Given that trading Watson is practically off the table because of his untradeable deal, Cleveland’s best strategy is to gather draft assets to reshape the roster in the coming years. This trade is likely the first step in a process aimed at stockpiling picks for the 2025 and 2026 drafts.
Cleveland might not stop with Cooper. Other players such as Za’Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jedrick Wills Jr., and Denzel Ward could become trade candidates if the organization fully commits to a rebuild. Moving these valuable assets would provide the Browns with additional draft capital and salary cap relief, further accelerating their transition to a younger roster.
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