The Buffalo Bills made a significant move to bolster their offense on Tuesday, acquiring five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns in a blockbuster trade. The deal gives star quarterback Josh Allen a true No. 1 target as the Bills look to solidify their position at the top of the AFC East.
In the trade, the Bills sent a 2025 third-round draft pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Browns in exchange for Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round selection. The move comes just hours after the Bills’ AFC East rivals, the New York Jets, acquired Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders, another high-profile wide receiver trade that shakes up the division.
Cooper, 30, fills a void left by the Bills’ offseason trade of Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. Without Diggs, Buffalo’s wide receiver corps has struggled, ranking 25th or worse in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and receiving first downs. The addition of Cooper is expected to provide a significant boost to the Bills’ offense, particularly in the second half of the season.
“We believe in the receivers that we already have in the room,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “We’ll see when Amari gets here and how we can get him up to speed and get him integrated into what we do. It’s never about one guy. It’s about the team.”
For Cooper, the trade represents a fresh start after a difficult season with the Browns. The wide receiver has struggled along with Cleveland’s offense, which ranks among the worst in the league. Despite recording a career-high 1,250 receiving yards in 2023, Cooper has just 250 yards and two touchdowns through six games this season, with a league-leading nine drops.
“We appreciate Amari’s hard work, professionalism, and on-field contributions throughout his two plus seasons with us,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said in a statement. “We wish him the best in Buffalo as he continues his NFL career.”
The trade is a win for both teams, according to analysts. The Bills get a proven outside receiver who can lift the ceiling of their passing game, while the Browns collect valuable draft capital and clear salary cap space. Cooper will also benefit from the change of scenery, swapping Deshaun Watson for MVP candidate Josh Allen.
“This couldn’t get much better for Cooper after he was involved in trade rumors as far back as August,” wrote one analyst. “He goes from arguably the worst offense in the league to a division leader with playoff aspirations.”
The Bills released wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Tuesday to make room for Cooper on the roster. Valdes-Scantling had just two receptions for 26 yards in six games this season.
Cooper, who has been traded three times in his 10-year career, now joins his fourth team. He was originally drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2015 and later played for the Dallas Cowboys and Browns. In his career, Cooper has 691 receptions for 9,736 yards and 62 touchdowns.
The trade could have significant playoff implications for the Bills, who are currently 4-2 and tied for first place in the AFC East with the Miami Dolphins. With Cooper in the fold, Buffalo’s offense should be even more formidable as they look to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Browns will need to find a way to replace Cooper’s production. Jerry Jeudy, who the Browns acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos this offseason, is expected to slide into a starting role, while Elijah Moore and tight ends David Njoku and Jordan Akins will also see increased opportunities.