The Buffalo Bills made a bold midseason move by trading for veteran receiver Amari Cooper, hoping he’ll spark their offense. Cooper, a five-time Pro Bowler, has already proved he can deliver on multiple teams, and now Buffalo is counting on him to do it again. With a fresh start and Josh Allen as his quarterback, fans are eager to see if Cooper can reignite his game. The big question: can Cooper quickly become Allen’s go-to target and help push the Bills toward a playoff run in 2024? That’s what everyone’s waiting to see.
Amari Cooper’s Impressive Career Across Three Franchises
Amari Cooper isn’t just a talented wide receiver; he’s one of only four players in NFL history to record over 2,500 receiving yards with three different teams—the Raiders, Cowboys, and Browns. This places him in elite company alongside Irving Fryar, Harold Jackson, and Anquan Boldin. He’s also one of only eight players to notch 1,000-yard seasons with three different teams, showcasing his adaptability and consistent production.
With the Bills, Cooper has the chance to make NFL history again. After trading a 2025 third-round and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the 1-5 Cleveland Browns for Cooper, Buffalo hopes he can join Brandin Cooks and Brandon Marshall as the third player to achieve 1,000-yard receiving seasons with four different franchises. For Bills fans, this trade represents a gamble with the potential for a massive payoff.
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Buffalo’s Big Gamble on Amari Cooper
This trade isn’t Cooper’s first in-season move. In 2018, the Dallas Cowboys rescued him from a struggling Raiders team that started 1-5. Cooper turned his season around after the midseason trade, going from averaging 46.7 yards per game in Oakland to 80.7 yards per game in Dallas. His immediate impact helped the Cowboys go from 3-5 to NFC East division champions by the end of the season.
The 2024 Bills are banking on a similar midseason turnaround. Their receiving corps has struggled since Stefon Diggs departed for the Houston Texans in the offseason, leaving a WR1 void that Cooper can fill. The Bills need Cooper to quickly build chemistry with Josh Allen, much like he did with Dak Prescott six years ago.
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How Does Amari Cooper Fit With the 2024 Bills?
Cooper’s 2024 season with the Browns had been rough. Cooper’s 41.7 receiving yards per game were a career low, largely due to Cleveland’s quarterback struggles. Watson couldn’t surpass 200 passing yards in any of his six starts, limiting Cooper’s chances to shine.
Despite these challenges, Cooper’s stats reveal he’s still got what it takes. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Cooper averaged 2.7 yards of separation this season, his highest since his first year with Prescott in 2018. This suggests he’s still getting open, even if the ball wasn’t coming his way in Cleveland. His 473 air yards on incomplete passes—also the highest in the league—prove he was consistently in position to make big plays.
Buffalo’s receiving corps has struggled to stretch the field, with no receiver topping a 26% air yards share in 2024. Enter Amari Cooper. Cooper accounted for nearly half of Cleveland’s air yards, making him the ideal WR1 replacement for Diggs. He’s ready to handle that workload and brings 62 career touchdowns, more than Buffalo’s entire receiving corps combined.
Cooper vs. Diggs: Can He Fill the Void?
While Cooper’s production may not quite match Stefon Diggs’s volume, his big-play ability stands out. Since joining Cleveland in 2022, Cooper has averaged 15.3 yards per reception compared to Diggs’ 11.9 over the same period. He might not be the most targeted receiver on the field, but when he gets the ball, he knows how to maximize it.
Since 2022, Amari Cooper has recorded 174 receptions for 2,660 yards, averaging 15.3 yards per catch with 16 touchdowns. In comparison, Stefon Diggs has caught 252 passes for 3,003 yards, averaging 11.9 yards per reception and scoring 22 touchdowns.
Cooper is more of a deep threat, which could be exactly what the Bills need. His presence on the outside allows Allen to spread the ball to other playmakers. With Cooper stretching the field, defenses must respect his ability to go deep, freeing up room for other weapons like tight end Dalton Kincaid and slot receiver Khalil Shakir.
Can Cooper and Allen Make the Connection?
Buffalo needs Cooper to have an immediate impact, much like he did when he joined the Cowboys midseason in 2018. The chemistry between him and Josh Allen will be crucial. Allen, a two-time Pro Bowler, has a strong arm and extends plays, perfectly matching Cooper’s deep-threat abilities.
Given Cooper’s track record of adjusting to new offenses, there’s plenty of reason to believe he and Allen can click right away. Cooper could ignite Buffalo’s offense just in time for a playoff push if they can get in sync quickly.
