We’re still weeks away from the NFL trade deadline, and the trades for star playmakers are already flying in.
After the New York Jets traded for Davante Adams from the fledgling Las Vegas Raiders early Tuesday morning, the Buffalo Bills arguably one-upped their AFC East rivals by acquiring Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns.
This is a big deal for Cooper, who escapes the NFL’s worst quarterback situation. It’s even bigger for Josh Allen, who desperately needed a go-to playmaker on a Bills team that is still rightfully dreaming of winning the Super Bowl.
Let’s break it all down and hand out some grades.
The details
- Bills get: WR Amari Cooper, a 2025 sixth-round draft pick
- Browns get: A 2025 third-round draft pick, a 2026 seventh-round draft pick
https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1846254022094635130
Buffalo Bills
The Bills are 4-2 and sitting in a comfortable first place in the AFC East. But they’ve shown a lot more cracks in the armor than in the past — especially on offense.
While Josh Allen remains exceptional, Buffalo didn’t have a “gotta have it” playmaker in the wake of Stefon Diggs’ departure in the offseason. While the Bills remained a strong playoff contender, it would’ve been silly to assume this set-up could’ve help them overcome actual AFC heavyweights in the postseason.
Enter Cooper, Allen’s new best friend.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Cooper has languished in the Browns’ morose offense over the last few seasons. Now, he gets one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks going out of his way to find him downfield 10-15 times a game. He gives Buffalo a much-needed dimension to really compete with the big boys and pursue the organization’s first-ever Lombardi Trophy in earnest again.
The 30-year-old Cooper is technically a rental to the Bills, as he is set to be an unrestricted free agent this spring. But it’s worth sending off a Day 2 draft pick for a rental as a team with legitimate championship aspirations.
Grade: A
Cleveland Browns
I can’t believe the Browns finally waved the white towel. Kevin Stefanski’s steadfast refusal to bench Deshaun Watson sure made it seem like Cleveland was hell-bent on going down with the ship with a quarterback once accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women in what the NFL would later characterize as “predatory behavior.”
Which, to be clear, these pitiful Browns should’ve always been sellers. Kudos to them for recouping great high-end value for a slightly older playmaker that they weren’t going to resign anyway.
Of course, the Browns’ drafting history suggests the third-rounder they get from the Cooper trade won’t turn into a meaningful player. (Sorry, Browns fans.) But it’s always better to get quality assets for the future rather than not.
For once, Cleveland did something smart compared to the last few years.
Grade: A