Browns trade WR Amari Cooper to Bills

 

The Buffalo Bills' patchwork group of receivers is getting a boost, with the team acquiring Amari Cooper in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, both teams announced on Tuesday. Buffalo gave up a third-round pick in the 2025 draft as part of the trade that also included a swap of late-round picks. Buffalo also acquired a 2025 sixth-round draft pick and sent Cleveland a 2026 seventh-round pick in a trade, which came a day after the Bills (4-2) expanded their lead atop the AFC East with a 23-20 win over their division rival New York Jets (2-4).

The 30-year-old Cooper is in his 10th season and third in Cleveland, where he and the rest of the offence have struggled under quarterback Deshaun Watson.

We've agreed to trade for WR Amari Cooper‼️https://t.co/Ilbmxum2sf | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/HUdMM3SaUM

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 15, 2024

 Week 3 saw Cooper grab 24 passes on 53 targets for 250 yards and two scores, all of which came in the Giants' 21-15 defeat. For 137 yards on 12 catches in his last three games, he has been held back.

He joins a Josh Allen-led offense in Buffalo that lacks a stable receiving threat following the trade of Stefon Diggs to Houston over the offseason and the free agency loss of No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis. The Bills decided to let go of Diggs and Davis as part of their larger plan to make payroll adjustments and clear the salary cap for next season.

The Browns’ decision to trade one of their top players could be a sign that the team has given up on a season growing worse by the week. Cleveland (1-5) dropped its fourth straight game following a 20-16 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday.

Acquired by Cleveland in a 2022 trade from the Dallas Cowboys, Cooper had been one of the team’s leaders and best players, gaining more than 1,100 yards receiving the past two seasons.

However, the past few months have been odd for the dependable veteran.

He skipped minicamp in a contract holdout before the Browns re-worked the final year of his contract. Cooper was then the subject of rampant trade rumours — mostly involving San Francisco — before the buzz quieted down in recent weeks. Cooper hasn’t been the same on the field, either, dropping several passes that have contributed to Watson’s struggles.

Cooper opened his career with the Oakland Raiders and has topped 1,000 yards receiving seven times.