Davante Adams was dealt to the Jets earlier this week, but that AFC East wideout acquisition was soon followed up by the Bills landing Amari Cooper. Further details have emerged on the latter swap. 
Buffalo was one of several suitors for Adams, who represented the top trade target amongst receivers. The price for adding the three-time All-Pro was dictated in large part by Vegas’ desire to avoid retaining any of his salary. That wound up being the case, something which took the Bills out of the running to seriously pursue a deal.
“My gut was [the Raiders] were never interested in eating money, which they didn’t,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed when speaking about Adams’ trade market (via Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News). “If they were interested in doing that, they probably could have gotten some more from us or somebody else.”
With the Bills never truly being a contender to acquire Adams, attention turned to Cooper. As Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes, Beane and Co. touched base with the Browns before further conversations on a trade took place Monday (video link). That agreement (which saw Buffalo land Cooper and a sixth-round pick this year for a third-rounder and a seventh-round selection in 2026) was worked out one day later, a sign of how smoothly negotiations progressed.
Cooper stated he did not expect to be dealt, and Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports notes the Browns were not actively shopping him prior to the agreement being reached (video link). Rather, it was Buffalo’s “very aggressive” efforts to land Cooper which got the deal done. Indeed, Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer notes the Browns got a higher trade price than they expected. He adds, however, that Cleveland did now view the five-time Pro Bowler has living up to the team’s standards through the opening portion of the season.
Cooper’s 41.7 yards per game in 2024 is the lowest mark of his career, a result of the Browns’ struggling offense but also a potential sign of decline. The 30-year-old will be nevertheless be expected to handle a heavy workload early on in his Buffalo tenure, given the lack of experienced pass-catchers on the Bills’ offense. After the team traded away Stefon Diggs and allowed Gabe Davis to depart in free agency, Cooper has the potential to command a notable target share with his latest team. Acclimating to the Bills’ playbook will take time, but no waiting period should be expected.
Head coach Sean McDermott said (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia) he expects Cooper to suit up against the Titans on Sunday. A full workload days after being dealt may not be realistic, but he will be positioned to contribute right away on a team once again looking to make a deep run amongst the AFC’s contenders.
He probably won’t know how to play with a QB who can actually throw him the ball. Hopefully he hasn’t forgotten what it feels like to catch a ball.
Remember he has to stretch those hamstrings out, Dumbshawn couldn’t throw anything over 10 yards.
Jerry Rice wouldn’t have averaged more yards per game with Watson at QB.
Winston isn’t that great a QB, but he would give the Browns a much better chance of winning.
Winston in his heyday would run circles around this version of Dumbshawn. And I believe an older, wiser version of Jameis is actually what the Browns need at this point.
“He adds, however, that Cleveland did now view the five-time Pro Bowler has living up to the team’s standards through the opening portion of the season.”
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Right.
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I grew up a Browns fan watching Paul Brown coach. Blanton Collier took over Brown’s coaching staff and did well. Marty Schottenheimer (who I watched from afar after leaving NE Ohio) was very good. But Art Modell was a crummy owner, and there are no words to describe the guy they have now.
There is a theory that the NFL Commissioner stuck that guy on the Browns fans when they were up for sale, to pay those fans back for so disrupting the NFL business offices when Modell moved the team – even though they were selling out most if not all games. This rings true to me as other potential buyers weren’t even considered (some that contained well-heeled former players and HOF coaches). Where they found this guy shows the sort of money-grabbing people that run the NFL.
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Browns fans in NE Ohio and around the country / world do not deserve this guy. The thought of him and his wife is abhorrent to any decent person. The fact that the guy is so incompetent and desperate that he brings in a QB like that…and at that cost…..and obviously I’m not only talking about his play on
the field – is too much.
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So pointing a finger at Amari Cooper as has been done with dozens and dozens of professional coaches and players that have had the misfortune to have to play under the Haslem ownership is something that they’ll never forget or forgive.
Great poat
The flaw in the conspiracy theory is that all the other owners endorsed Haslem’s ownership…so it would have had to be a case of collusion that was league wide in scope.
crosseyedlemon;
Uhhhh……
Why is that a “flaw”?
Excuse me – I detailed the outcome. Are you not aware of it? Do you follow the NFL?
This article needs some editing. Poor writing, some confusing mistakes.
Since the Browns are mentioned, quality isn’t important…
Amazingly, he didn’t have a ‘pulled hammy,’ unlike Adams, whose hamstring magically healed thanks to the trade.
If the NFL is serious about players’ health, they should take fake injuries just as seriously.
Does anyone edit these articles? The amount of grammatical errors is distracting. Also, go Bills!