The Buffalo Bills may need reinforcements at wide receiver just as All-Pro Davante Adams is rumored to be on the trade block. Many see this as a perfect fit, giving quarterback Josh Allen a new go-to Target following Stefon Diggs’ departure last offseason.
However, one analyst disagrees. Ralph Ventre of SI.com suggested the Bills should instead target Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper, a former Pro Bowler. Ventre argued that Cooper would likely come at a lower cost than the second-round pick the Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly seeking for Adams.
“As the Cleveland Browns (1-3) slide further from playoff contention, veteran Amari Cooper may become available,” Ventre wrote in an October 2 article. “His asking price would certainly be lower than a second-round pick, and even that seems unlikely. Cleveland picked him up for a fifth-rounder in 2022.”
Bills Unlikely to Pursue Davante Adams While several insiders see the Bills as a logical trade partner for the Raiders, Ventre noted that Buffalo doesn’t quite meet Adams’ preferred conditions.
“Rumors suggest that Adams wants to reunite with a quarterback he’s familiar with, making the New York Jets’ Aaron Rodgers and the New Orleans Saints’ Derek Carr two prime destinations,” Ventre explained.
He added that there are “too many hurdles” for the Bills to pursue Adams, making Cooper a more feasible option for upgrading their receiving corps.
Cooper is coming off a season with 72 receptions, 1,250 yards, and 5 touchdowns, despite the Browns’ offensive struggles. Though he’s had a slower start this year, Cooper has recorded 16 catches for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns so far.
The key factor, Ventre emphasized, is the cost
“If acquired today, Cooper’s cap hit would be less than $1 million, according to Spotrac,” Ventre wrote. “It’s achievable, and Bills GM Brandon Beane should make it happen.”
Bills in Need of a Top Receiver With the offseason departures of Diggs and No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis, the Bills have adopted an “everybody eats” strategy, spreading the ball among multiple receivers.
While this approach has distributed targets more evenly — five players have at least eight receptions — there is no clear No. 1 receiver, and none are on pace for a 1,000-yard season. Khalil Shakir, the top returning wideout, leads with 18 catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
Buffalo’s passing game faltered in their 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, with ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg highlighting the offense’s struggles against a fierce defense.
“After scoring 30-plus points in the first three games, this was a major letdown,” Getzenberg noted. “The Bills’ streak of 41 straight regular-season games scoring more than 10 points ended, the longest active streak in the NFL.
The offense went 2-11 on third down, and Allen completed just 16 of 29 passes (55.2%), down from his season average of 75%. The offensive line also struggled, with Allen pressured on 44.1% of throws and sacked three times after allowing only two sacks all season.”
