After weeks of speculation about his potential trade, veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper will officially be suiting up for a new team for the remainder of the 2024 season.
The Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday that they had acquired Cooper, along with a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick.
In six games this season, Cooper had been the Browns’ leading receiver, tallying 24 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
The trade follows a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on the Oct. 5 episode of SportsCenter, where he noted that Cooper could become a trade target for teams that missed out on Davante Adams. Adams, the star receiver, had been traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Jets just hours before the Cooper deal was finalized between the Browns and Bills. Ultimately, Buffalo made a convincing offer to secure Cooper.
Cooper, in the final year of his contract, is earning the veteran minimum of $1.21 million for 2024 after restructuring his deal in July, which added four voidable years. He had initially held out of Cleveland’s mandatory minicamp, seeking a pay raise, and was rewarded with an additional $20 million in guarantees.
One of the NFL’s most dependable receivers, Cooper has posted at least 1,000 yards in four of the past five seasons. In 2023, he set career highs with 1,250 yards and an impressive 17.4 yards per catch on 72 receptions, scoring five touchdowns. He also set a Cleveland single-game franchise record with 265 yards in a Week 16 victory over the Houston Texans. The 30-year-old earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection that season.
With Cooper in their ranks, the Bills add a consistent playmaker who should strengthen their chances of securing another AFC East title this year.
