The Cleveland Browns have just traded their wide receiver to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a third round pick and another future pick.
Yesterday was a big day for NFL trades, with the Buffalo Bills acquiring star wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. This trade follows the New York Jets earlier acquisition of Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders setting the stage for an eventful day of transactions.
The full details of the trade reveal that the Bills will receive Amari Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick sent to the Browns. While some Bills fans may feel that parting with a third round pick is costly Cooper is an immediate upgrade for a Buffalo team competing for the top spot in the AFC East.
Cooper a seasoned receiver has had a quieter start to the 2024 season with 24 catches and 250 receiving yards but he’s been working with Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson whose performance has been inconsistent. The move to Buffalo, where he’ll catch passes from star quarterback Josh Allen, is expected to rejuvenate Cooper’s productivity. Notably, the Bills also won’t be taking on much of Cooper’s contract as he is set to be paid near the league minimum for the remainder of the season.
Buffalo’s offense has struggled to create separation in recent weeks and Cooper’s ability to win one-on-one matchups will be crucial The Bills have faced difficulty getting their receivers open, and Cooper’s arrival addresses a fundamental weakness as the team looks to make a deep playoff run.
Amari Cooper’s contract and salary
Cooper, who will be 31 years old as he enters the 2025 season is poised to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after this season. This allows the Bills to thoroughly assess his long term fit with the team before making any commitments beyond this season. If Cooper demonstrates strong performance, the Bills will have the opportunity to negotiate a new contract to secure his continued presence on the team.
The Buffalo Bills can easily accommodate Amari Cooper’s contract within their available cap space. This is due to the restructuring of Cooper’s agreement with the Browns during the last offseason. Cleveland is responsible for his signing bonus and any dead cap on his deal, leaving the Bills with only the prorated portion of his $1.21 million base salary for the remainder of the 2024 season, which amounts to approximately $800,000 after six weeks. This is a manageable figure for Buffalo’s cap situation.
In addition to Amari Cooper’s base salary, his contract includes performance-based incentives (per Spotrac) that could affect the Bills’ 2025 cap space depending on his on-field production. Cooper can earn $1 million if named first-team All-Pro and $500,000 for second-team All-Pro honors. Moreover, he has a $1 million incentive to reach 1,251 receiving yards in the season.
His first big contract of his career came with the Cowboys in 2020, when he signed a 5-year, $100,000,000 contract, including a $10,000,000 signing bonus, $60,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $20,000,000.
