The Buffalo Bills went into this season with lesser expectations than in recent years. Key names like receiver Stefon Diggs were no longer on the squad and most expected a slight regression from the previous season. However, the team has persevered with quarterback Josh Allen turning in an MVP-caliber performance. At some point, management realized that some help might be critical to making a deep playoff run.
That is how a trade for Amari Cooper materialized and the Bills found themselves with a star wide receiver for their alien quarterback. Looking back, how did the trade for Cooper come about, and how has it impacted both sides?
Detailing Amari Cooper’s Trade From the Cleveland Browns to the Buffalo Bills
At the time of the trade, the Bills were in a bit of a slump. After starting the year hot, they had trailed off and lost two of their last three, while averaging under 18 points per game. James Cook was still generating at an efficient pace, the wide receiver room was lacking and holding the offense back.
That is why the trade for Cooper was necessary. After the deal was made, Buffalo immediately went on an eight-game streak of scoring 30 or more points, the longest such streak in NFL history. While he wasn’t available for the first two games, Cooper added valuable reinforcement for the second half of the season.
In exchange for Cooper and a sixth-round pick, the Bills gave up a third-round pick and another seventh-rounder in 2026. In retrospect, the move looks like a solid one for the Buffalo. Cooper’s new team finished 13-4 with the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
Why Did the Browns Trade Cooper?
Cleveland was reportedly willing to include Cooper in a trade for San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk earlier this summer. While that deal never came to fruition, Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski had at least considered the idea before sending Cooper elsewhere.
At the time of the trade, the Browns were 1-5 after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6. While all but one of their losses came by a single score, Cleveland had just one victory, a tight 18-13 win over the Jaguars in Week 2.
Deshaun Watson finished 39th of 39 qualified passers in PFN’s QB+ metric. The Browns scored just 15.2 points per game, which ranked dead last in the NFL.
Cleveland isn’t going anywhere fast, while Cooper was scheduled to become a free agent in 2025. With little hope of re-signing him, the Browns decided to get something for Cooper now rather than waiting for a potential compensatory pick in 2026.
Cooper’s Impact on the Bills
In terms of raw numbers, Cooper hasn’t made much of a difference for the Bills. This was the worst year of his career — he failed to tally 600 yards after breaking 1,200 in 2023. However, his impact meant more to Buffalo’s offense than the stat sheet would suggest
Firstly, he gave the Bills a ton of versatility on offense. Cooper can consistently move the sticks with his ability to separate, and the attention that earned opened things up for the Bills’ ancillary weapons.
Even though he totaled just 297 yards and two touchdowns in eight games, he helped Allen finish as the third-best quarterback in the league, according to PFN’s QB+ metric. Moreover, after their midseason struggles, Buffalo finished with the fourth-best offense in the league by PFN’s Offense+ metric.
There’s still time to make an even greater impact. For the Bills, fighting for a playoff spot was never a realistic worry. Instead, for a team that has always been the bridesmaid, Cooper gave Buffalo a dynamic threat to assist a Super Bowl run.
Cooper was all but a no-show in the Wild Card Round, catching just two passes for eight yards. Ultimately, the Bills demolished the Denver Broncos 31-7 anyway. When they take on the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round, it’s going to require Cooper to be at his best.
Cooper’s performance in the coming weeks could decide how fans reflect on his trade.
