What do the Browns get in return for trading Amari Cooper to the Bills?

The Cleveland Browns have traded Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills in a deal that has people talking across the AFC. The Bills send a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round pick. It’s a move that speaks volumes about where both franchises find themselves halfway through the season.

Cleveland’s decision to part with Cooper, a five-time Pro Bowler, signals a shift in strategy. The Browns sit at 1-5, struggling to find any consistency on offense. Cooper’s name had been floating around in trade rumors since the offseason, and now that speculation has finally come to fruition. The Browns are looking to regroup and refocus, and moving on from their veteran wide receiver seems to be part of that process.

“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. “He created many memorable moments with us and was an integral part of our 2023 playoff team. We wish him the best in Buffalo as he continues his NFL career.”

For Cleveland, this trade opens the door for younger talent to take on bigger roles. Jerry Jeudy, who was acquired in a separate deal with Denver earlier this season, is expected to step up as the team’s new WR1. With Elijah Moore likely seeing more targets and tight ends David Njoku and Jordan Akins becoming focal points, the Browns are clearly reshuffling their offensive strategy.

Cooper, meanwhile, moves to Buffalo, where the Bills are looking for a spark. Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense have been searching for a consistent No. 1 receiver since the season began. Cooper, with his ability to get open off the line and stretch the field, provides exactly that. He gives Buffalo a true top target, allowing the rest of the receiving corps to settle into more comfortable roles. Khalil Shakir can now focus on working from the slot, and rookie Keon Coleman won’t have the burden of being an every-down playmaker.

Buffalo doesn’t take on much of Cooper’s contract either, thanks to the Browns converting most of his salary into a signing bonus back in March. The Bills pick up Cooper for a modest $806,667 in salary this year, making this deal both financially and tactically sound for the Bills as they push to remain competitive in the AFC East.

It’s not just the Browns making moves in the division, though. The New York Jets, fresh off a 2-4 start, landed Davante Adams in a separate trade with the Raiders. The Bills, not to be outdone, countered with Cooper, making it clear that there’s a chess game happening in the AFC East. Each team is making bold moves, hoping they’ll be the one to come out on top.

The Browns’ offense will look different without Cooper, and the Bills are banking on him being the missing piece in their Super Bowl puzzle. This is the kind of trade that could tip the scales for both franchises, one way or another.