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Bills Open To Trading S Mike Edwards

October 30th, 2024 at 10:57am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Bills signed Mike Edwards to a one-year, $2.8MM contract this offseason, but he has appeared in just three of the team’s eight games so far this season.

Edwards has played just 20 total snaps – seven on defense and 13 on special teams – with Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich preferring Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin to start at safety with Cam Lewis and Cole Bishop providing rotational depth.

As a result, Edwards is available on the trade block, according to ESPN’s Dan Fowler, with interest from the veteran safety in finding a new home and more consistent playing time this year. Four of Edward’s five absences this year have been healthy scratches with an illness holding him out of the Bills’ Week 7 matchup.

Edwards has just under $1MM remaining in salary and per game roster bonuses and will likely only cost a late Day 3 pick on the trade market, making him an affordable acquisition for a team looking for secondary help.

The Bills, however, could use improved play from their safeties, according to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia. Rapp and Hamlin has sufficed as a starting duo, but Bishop and Lewis have registered Pro Football Focus grades of 50.3 and 45.5, respectively (subscription required).

If Buffalo elects to deal Edwards to another team, they may re-sign Micah Hyde, who hit free agency this past spring and declared that he would either retire or return to his longtime team. The Bills have left the door open to a reunion with Hyde, per Buscaglia, and his experience next to Rapp in 2023 would allow him to easily slide back into the defense.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/29/24

October 29th, 2024 at 7:37pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest transactions from around the NFL:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Murray suffered a torn pectoral in the Bears’ loss to the Commanders on Sunday, thinning out Chicago’s offensive line depth. He played 37 snaps at left guard in Week 5 in relief of an injured Tevin Jenkins, who left Sunday’s game with another injury. After full participation in practice last week, Larry Borom should be ready to be activated from injured reserve to reinforce the Bears’ offensive line before Week 9.

The Texans officially played Diggs on injured reserve after tests confirmed a season-ending ACL tear, a non-contact injury that occurred in Houston’s Week 8 victory over the Colts. With Nico Collins already on IR, C.J. Stroud will turn to Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz to keep the offense afloat until Collins returns. Diggs’ injury could heavily affect his market in free agency after requiring the Texans to remove the final three years of his contact to facilitate his trade from the Bills.

Sutton is eligible to play for the first time this year after serving an eight-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He was suspended after he was arrested for domestic battery by strangulation in March, leading to his release by the Lions. The Steelers then signed him to a one-year deal in June before the league handed down his suspension in July, forcing Pittsburgh to turn to Beanie Bishop at nickel.

2024 NFL Cap Space, By Team

October 27th, 2024 at 7:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the trade deadline nearing, more player movement can be expected during the coming days. Of course, a key factor in any deals will be the financial situation for contenders aiming to bolster their rosters for the second half of the campaign.

Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is an updated look at each teams’ cap space:

  1. San Francisco 49ers: $54.13MM
  2. Cleveland Browns: $45.16MM
  3. New England Patriots: $36.61MM
  4. Las Vegas Raiders: $34.59MM
  5. Detroit Lions: $27.53MM
  6. Washington Commanders: $23.44MM
  7. Dallas Cowboys: $20.75MM
  8. Arizona Cardinals: $19.44MM
  9. Tennessee Titans: $18.26MM
  10. Jacksonville Jaguars: $17.12MM
  11. Green Bay Packers: $13.96MM
  12. Indianapolis Colts: $11.11MM
  13. Philadelphia Eagles: $10.36MM
  14. Minnesota Vikings: $9.48MM
  15. Cincinnati Bengals: $8.98MM
  16. Pittsburgh Steelers: $8.93MM
  17. Seattle Seahawks: $8.19MM
  18. Atlanta Falcons: $8.16MM
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $7.83MM
  20. Los Angeles Chargers: $7.72MM
  21. Chicago Bears: $6.14MM
  22. Houston Texans: $6.01MM
  23. New York Jets: $5.1MM
  24. Miami Dolphins: $5.02MM
  25. Baltimore Ravens: $4.36MM
  26. Buffalo Bills: $2.37MM
  27. Kansas City Chiefs: $2.35MM
  28. New Orleans Saints: $2.15MM
  29. Los Angeles Rams: $1.91MM
  30. Denver Broncos: $1.77MM
  31. New York Giants: $1.51MM
  32. Carolina Panthers: $1.12MM

Just like last year, the 49ers find themselves with considerable cap space to work with. The team has several reasons to roll over as many funds as possible into the offseason, however, with Brock Purdy eligible for an extension and the likes of Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Talanoa Hufanga on track for free agency. Major investments including a commitment beyond 2024 would thus come as a surprise.

San Francisco is among the teams to watch regarding an addition, and major injuries on both sides of the ball could lead to a stop-gap solution being targeted. The 49ers may also be open to moving away players before the deadline, though, with Ward being named as potential candidate to be dealt. Sitting at 3-4, the team’s bid to return to the Super Bowl has not gone as planned to date, but a notable midseason addition could certainly change things.

Having lost Aidan Hutchinson until at least the Super Bowl, the Lions have an obvious need along the edge. Replacing his production with any one addition will not be feasible, but bringing in at least a rotational option would not come as a surprise. Indeed, Detroit has been involved in the edge market with respect to showing interest in some of the veterans who could be on the move.

That list no longer includes Haason Reddick, but the Lions have also been connected to Za’Darius Smith. The Browns have already moved Amari Cooper, so it would come as little surprise if the team were to deal away the three-time Pro Bowler in a move which would allow him to return to the NFC North. Smith certainly seems to be open to a trade, and Detroit would easily be able to absorb the remainder of his $1.2MM 2024 salary.

While Smith could be on the move, fellow Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett is (understandably) seen as untouchable. That is also the case for Raiders start Maxx Crosby, with owner Mark Davis making it clear a trade will not be considered before or after the deadline. Even though the Titans have been active already on the trade front, they too will not entertain a deal involving two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. While talks have taken place related to Cooper Kupp, the Rams do not expect to move on from the former Super Bowl MVP.

The receiver position remains one to watch even with Davante Adams (Jets), Cooper (Bills) and DeAndre Hopkins (Chiefs) already joining new teams. As the Panthers consider selling off pending free agents, Diontae Johnson could be available for a mid-round pick. In the case of the Jaguars, Christian Kirk is still a candidate to be dealt (although he is not a pending free agent). Teams like the Steelers and Chargers have yet to add a pass-catcher, but they have shown interest and could pull off a move in the coming days.

Bills, Steelers Discussed WR Cooper Kupp With Rams

October 27th, 2024 at 9:15am CST by Sam Robinson

Before agreeing to acquire Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Chiefs entered discussions with the Rams on Cooper Kupp. Los Angeles was believed to be discussing the former All-Pro with teams, something Sean McVay confirmed after the team’s upset win over the Vikings on Thursday.

McVay, however, all but slammed the door on a Kupp trade before the Nov. 5 deadline. Other AFC teams joined the Chiefs, however, in discussing Kupp. The Bills and Steelers engaged in talks with the Rams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

For Buffalo, this effort most likely came before the team agreed to acquire Amari Cooper from Cleveland. While it would be interesting if the Bills pursued both players, especially as the Cooper trade only resulted in an $806K cap number hitting the perennial AFC East champions’ books, it seems logical the team explored Kupp and then centered its trade effort on Cooper. The Browns were preparing to hold onto Cooper for a bit longer, but the Bills’ interest — as their post-Stefon Diggs receiver plan showed early cracks — proved aggressive enough the struggling AFC North club moved on from the contract-year player ahead of Week 7.

The Steelers’ receiver need has been well chronicled, dating back to the draft. Pittsburgh joined Buffalo in showing interest in Deebo Samuel, as the 49ers discussed both he and Brandon Aiyuk in trades. Aiyuk then became Pittsburgh’s target — to the point trade framework was in place by August. The Steelers then saw Aiyuk remove them from consideration by recommitting to the 49ers via a four-year, $120MM deal. The now-Russell Wilson-quarterbacked team was also in on Davante Adams, only to see the ex-Packers star prefer to rejoin Aaron Rodgers with the Jets, who took on the recent Raider’s entire 2024 prorated salary — something other teams have been hesitant to do.

The Rams were seen as willing to pick up part of Kupp’s tab. It would cost just less than $9MM for a team to acquire Kupp this week, but with the Rams winning two straight the Kupp-Puka Nacua tandem making a significant impact in the team’s upset victory over the Vikings, the Rams standing down checks out. Kupp, 31, is signed for two more seasons — on the three-year, $80.1MM deal he inked months after his Super Bowl MVP showing — and could be an offseason trade candidate. Kupp would stand to built trade value by staying healthy — something he has failed to do since that stratospheric 2021 season — down the stretch.

With Kupp off the market and Adams, Cooper and Hopkins also dealt, the Steelers reside in an interesting position. The receiver most likely to be moved played five seasons in Pittsburgh. The Panthers are expected to deal Diontae Johnson, who had angled for a trade out of Pittsburgh. It should be considered unlikely the Steelers pay a mid-round pick to acquire one of their former wideouts. Beyond Johnson, the likes of Mike Williams, Christian Kirk, Adam Thielen and Patriots vets Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn are seen as trade candidates.

It seems probable Steelers finally pull the trigger on a trade. Although slot player Calvin Austin has contributed 203 receiving yards to the cause, none of the Steelers’ other George Pickens sidekicks have cleared 80 yards through seven games. With the team at 5-2 and sporting a high-end defensive unit, a buyer trade to help Wilson should be on the way. But options have dwindled since the team began this quest.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/26/24

October 26th, 2024 at 6:24pm CST by Ely Allen

Saturdays minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/24

October 25th, 2024 at 6:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Friday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

Carter is dealing with a wrist injury which will require surgery. Head coach Sean McDermott indicated (via Katherine Fitzgerald of the Buffalo News) the team was initially unsure of if a stint on injured reserve would be needed. Now that the third-round rookie has been moved to IR, he will miss at least the next four games. Carter has appeared in all seven of Buffalo’s contests this year, logging a 39% snap share.

Trade Rumors: Chiefs, Cooper, Browns, Jefferson, Bills, Eagles

October 22nd, 2024 at 5:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Reminding of the 2010s Patriots, the Chiefs have continued to pile up wins lacking in style points. They are the NFL’s lone unbeaten, though the two-time reigning Super Bowl champs’ plus-43 point differential — thanks to four one-score wins — is tied for seventh in the NFL. Kansas City has lost Rashee Rice for the season, and Marquise Brown is out for at least the full regular season. The team also lost JuJu Smith-Schuster on Sunday; the recently re-signed veteran aggravated a hamstring injury and will miss at least Week 8, Andy Reid said.

While the Chiefs do have an all-time great at tight end in Travis Kelce, albeit a 35-year-old version of the TE/podcast host/actor, they have not seen first-rounder Xavier Worthy develop into a consistent option. The team has used Mecole Hardman more, with Justin Watson and Skyy Moore reprised their 2023 roles as regulars Sunday due to the injuries. Although Kansas City keeps getting by — thanks largely to a stout defense — SI.com’s Albert Breer points to the team still being interested in adding a wideout.

The Chiefs have been linked to DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk recently but have not made a move. It will be interesting to see if an AFC team would be willing to help them construct a better threepeat bid. NFCer Cooper Kupp, however, is available — albeit for a second-round pick. With the deadline moved back a week (to Nov. 5) this year, here is more from the trade market:

  • Amari Cooper relocated to Buffalo last week, with the Browns — after having not extended the reliable veteran this offseason — dealing him to the Bills in a pick-swap trade headlined by a 2025 third-rounder. The Browns were planning to hang onto Cooper until closer to the deadline, according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. In addition to Buffalo, two other teams were in on the former top-five pick, per Cabot, who adds the other suitors did not match the Bills’ aggression. Cooper did not expect to be dealt, and the Browns did not anticipate the Bills showing such strong interest. The 30-year-old pass catcher caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in his Bills debut.
  • The Bills are not shutting the door on making another move to bolster their enduring Super Bowl quest. Bills GM Brandon Beane said during a Pat McAfee Show interview that Josh Allen‘s presence, despite the team’s cost-cutting moves this offseason, continues to keep the club “all in” toward a Super Bowl push. The eighth-year GM is open to more deals, though The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia indicates a lower-profile trade — potentially for a backup offensive lineman — could be the Cooper encore. Beane added the Browns showing cold feet on Cooper would have prompted the team to keep looking at receiver. Cooper’s presence rounds out Buffalo’s receiving corps, which has seen improvement from Khalil Shakir and some recent growth from rookie Keon Coleman.
  • Another Browns player drawing trade interest: veteran D-lineman Quinton Jefferson. Teams have asked about the recent free agent signing, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes. A productive but nomadic player, Jefferson has played for five teams over the past five years. The former Seahawks draftee has operated as a Browns backup, playing in five games and registering one sack. The Browns used void years to drop Jefferson’s cap hit to $1.2MM (on a one-year, $4MM deal), giving an acquiring team a minimal prorated sum to take on in the event of a trade. The Browns should be expected to move other pieces not essential to their 2025-and-beyond plans, but Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward are viewed as off the table.
  • The Eagles received a bounce-back effort from their pass rush Sunday, preying on Andrew Thomas‘ absence to sack Giants quarterbacks eight times. Jalen Carter and off-ball linebacker Nakobe Dean led the way with two apiece. Defensive ends accounted for the other four, but the edge group has started slowly. Big-ticket FA signing Bryce Huff has 1.5 sacks and just three QB hits in six games. Going into Week 7, Breer added the Eagles — rarely shy about trade talks under Howie Roseman — may be a team to monitor regarding a pass-rushing addition.

Amari Cooper To Play In Week 7; Latest On Bills’ Pursuit

October 18th, 2024 at 10:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Davante Adams was dealt to the Jets earlier this week, but that AFC East wideout acquisition was soon followed up by the Bills landing Amari Cooper. Further details have emerged on the latter swap.

Buffalo was one of several suitors for Adams, who represented the top trade target amongst receivers. The price for adding the three-time All-Pro was dictated in large part by Vegas’ desire to avoid retaining any of his salary. That wound up being the case, something which took the Bills out of the running to seriously pursue a deal.

“My gut was [the Raiders] were never interested in eating money, which they didn’t,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed when speaking about Adams’ trade market (via Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News). “If they were interested in doing that, they probably could have gotten some more from us or somebody else.”

With the Bills never truly being a contender to acquire Adams, attention turned to Cooper. As Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes, Beane and Co. touched base with the Browns before further conversations on a trade took place Monday (video link). That agreement (which saw Buffalo land Cooper and a sixth-round pick this year for a third-rounder and a seventh-round selection in 2026) was worked out one day later, a sign of how smoothly negotiations progressed.

Cooper stated he did not expect to be dealt, and Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports notes the Browns were not actively shopping him prior to the agreement being reached (video link). Rather, it was Buffalo’s “very aggressive” efforts to land Cooper which got the deal done. Indeed, Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer notes the Browns got a higher trade price than they expected. He adds, however, that Cleveland did now view the five-time Pro Bowler has living up to the team’s standards through the opening portion of the season.

Cooper’s 41.7 yards per game in 2024 is the lowest mark of his career, a result of the Browns’ struggling offense but also a potential sign of decline. The 30-year-old will be nevertheless be expected to handle a heavy workload early on in his Buffalo tenure, given the lack of experienced pass-catchers on the Bills’ offense. After the team traded away Stefon Diggs and allowed Gabe Davis to depart in free agency, Cooper has the potential to command a notable target share with his latest team. Acclimating to the Bills’ playbook will take time, but no waiting period should be expected.

Head coach Sean McDermott said (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia) he expects Cooper to suit up against the Titans on Sunday. A full workload days after being dealt may not be realistic, but he will be positioned to contribute right away on a team once again looking to make a deep run amongst the AFC’s contenders.

Bills Add K Lucas Havrisik To Practice Squad

October 17th, 2024 at 9:41am CST by Sam Robinson

A Bills kicker workout will lead to Tyler Bass competition. Lucas Havrisik has secured another opportunity, latching on with Buffalo’s practice squad Thursday.

Bass has missed three field goals this season, all from between 40 and 49 yards, and memorably missed a game-tying kick — albeit in windy conditions — in that range that would have potentially forced overtime against the Chiefs in the divisional round. While Bills GM Brandon Beane has offered a vote of confidence, the Bills have a backup plan in place.

Havrisik spent part of last season as the Rams’ kicker, but the team waived him just before the playoffs. A reserve/futures deal with the Browns did not lead to a spot on their 53-man roster out of training camp, but the Bills will offer an opportunity. Havrisik, 25, was not part of Buffalo’s kicker audition last month; Anders Carlson and Cade York took part in that mid-September workout.

A former Browns UDFA, Havrisik landed in Los Angeles once the Rams signed him off Cleveland’s P-squad. He made 15 of 20 field goals last season, albeit playing in a friendlier home environment compared to what Bass has dealt with in Buffalo, but struggled down the stretch. Havrisik missed field goals in consecutive games before shanking two extra points in Week 17 in New York. The Rams cut him and moved back to Brett Maher, who kicked in their wild-card outing.

An Arizona product from Riverside, Calif., Havrisik does not have too much experience kicking in cold weather — at least, not compared to Bass. The Bills signed Bass to a four-year, $20.4MM extension in 2023. No guaranteed money remains on the deal beyond 2024. Bass, 27, has been Buffalo’s kicker for the past five seasons. The Bills chose him in the 2020 sixth round out of Georgia Southern.

Bass signed his extension after making more than 87% of his field goal tries in 2021 and ’22. This preceded a 4-for-6 season from beyond 50 yards last year. But Bass joined Greg Zuerlein in struggling Monday on a windy night. Before Bass’ Chiefs miss, he also made just 1 of 3 attempts in the Bills’ wild-card win over the Steelers. After six more games of evidence this season, the Bills are preparing to move on if need be.

Browns Trade Amari Cooper To Bills

October 15th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The receiver market is heating up. Hours after the Jets finalized their deal to acquire Davante Adams, the team that won Monday night’s game will also strike for a pass-catching weapon.

Amari Cooper is headed to Buffalo, with Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reporting the Bills and Browns have a deal in place. A recent report indicated Cleveland was not expected to unload Cooper, but after the Browns did not reach an extension with the accomplished wideout this offseason, he remains in a contract year. It appears that campaign with finish in New York. The teams have since announced the trade.

This deal includes the Browns receiving a third-round pick, though NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport classifies it as a pick-swap agreement. That will send a lower pick back to the Bills. Here is how the trade breaks down, via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero:

Bills receive:

  • Cooper
  • A 2025 sixth-round pick

Browns receive:

  • A 2025 third-round pick
  • 2026 seventh-rounder

This is the second time Cooper has been traded in-season, with the 2018 campaign including the Raiders sending him to the Cowboys for a first-round pick. After re-signing the former top-five pick in 2020, the Cowboys dealt him to the Browns during the 2022 offseason. Cooper, 30, has produced in Cleveland, but with Deshaun Watson well off his Texans pace, he has not fared especially well this season. Given the QB upgrade he is set to see, Cooper is likely to see a production uptick soon.

[RELATED: Bills Cut WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling]

Sean McDermott said last week Buffalo’s receiver situation had become a concern. The Bills’ plan of moving on from Stefon Diggs and not replacing him with a comparable wideout was passable early, but teams had limited the team’s receivers in recent weeks — a period that bottomed out with a woeful Josh Allen stat line in Houston. Even after the Bills prevailed over the Jets on Monday, they are loading up with one of the best wideouts on the market.

“Andrew Berry called me and told me what was going on,” Cooper said (via veteran insider Josina Anderson) of the trade. “As far as playing with Josh, I’ve always been fan of his game. I’m sure to see it up close and personal and play alongside him, I’m sure it’s going to be great.”

This Cooper swap comes after the Bills had monitored the Adams market. In on Adams from the beginning, Buffalo never appeared in pole position — or even in the front row — for the Raiders trade chip. It does not appear to be a coincidence that the Jets’ Adams trade went down shortly before this one. The Bills snaring Cooper gives them a weapon in an effort to hold off the Jets in the AFC East while taking away a potential Chiefs solution in the wake of Rashee Rice‘s season-ending injury.

Although Cooper is in his age-30 season and is averaging only 10.4 yards per catch this year (24/250), the Bills needed to include a third-round pick likely due to both his past production and the Browns having slashed his 2024 base salary to the veteran minimum. Cooper’s offseason restructure included an incentive package and his 2024 base dropping to $1.21MM.

That works out to just $783K to be transferred to the Bills’ payroll. The Browns, conversely, will take on $7.9MM in dead money this year and $22.6MM in dead cap in 2025. The total sum nearly matches Diggs’ receiver-record figure the Bills ate earlier this year.

Cooper’s route-running chops are on Diggs’ level, making it interesting Buffalo targeted the former No. 5 overall pick. Cooper has seven 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, with the most recent — 2023’s 1,250-yard showing with an aid from Joe Flacco — doubling as a career-high number. Cooper has never quite settled in as a top-tier receiver, but his credentials easily place him on the second rung. The refined pass catcher is a five-time Pro Bowler who has surpassed 1,100 yards in a season five times. Cooper totaled nine touchdowns in his first Browns season, doing so despite the team using Jacoby Brissett for 11 games and Watson (who re-emerged in concerning form) for the final six.

Turning 30 earlier this year, Cooper is several months younger than Diggs. The Bills had tired of Diggs’ antics, but they were beginning to miss his production. Drafted four rounds before Diggs in 2015, Cooper has not proven to be a locker room issue, as he has seamlessly transitioned to new teams via trade before.

The Alabama alum’s 2018 Dallas assimilation made a key difference in turning a sub.-500 Cowboys team into the NFC East champions. Cooper will now try to replace Diggs and help the Bills book a fifth straight division title. Set to anchor a receiving corps previously fronted by Khalil Shakir and second-round pick Keon Coleman, Cooper strengthens the Bills’ hopes of threatening the Chiefs’ AFC vice grip as well.

No stranger to splashy WR trades as the 2020 Diggs swap and the near-deal for Antonio Brown in 2019 shows, Bills GM Brandon Beane will attempt to equip his superstar quarterback with a weapon that will help him better maximize his age-28 season. Diggs moved the needle significantly in Allen’s development. With Allen much closer to a finished product now, the Bills are adding a similar playmaker. Buffalo received a 2025 second-round pick from Houston for Diggs, helping make parting with a Day 2 asset easier.

This deal comes barely two months after the Browns offered Cooper to the 49ers in a swap that would have sent Brandon Aiyuk to Cleveland. Aiyuk did not want to be traded to the Browns, who have struggled in the passing game for most of the decade despite obtaining Watson in 2022. Cooper, however, wanted to be traded to the 49ers, TheLandOnDemand.com’s Tony Grossi offers. That San Francisco proposal, which included second- and fifth-round picks as well, always made Cooper a trade chip to watch. With the Browns now 1-5 and Watson in terrible form, cashing out now with a Day 2 asset — which is more than the Browns initially gave up to acquire him from the Cowboys — can be viewed as a savvy move.

Cleveland sent just fifth- and sixth-round picks to Dallas to acquire Cooper in March 2022. The Cowboys have missed the midrange weapon’s presence, even as CeeDee Lamb has ascended to the All-Pro level. The Browns traded for Jerry Jeudy this offseason and gave the ex-Broncos first-rounder a three-year extension that brought more in guarantees ($41MM) than Cooper’s Cowboys-constructed pact (five years, $100MM, $40MM guaranteed at signing) did. The Browns also have Elijah Moore on their roster, but the ex-Jets second-rounder joins Cooper in being in a contract year.

Jeudy suddenly represents the Browns’ receiver centerpiece, as he is tied to the team through the 2027 season. Jeudy, however, is 0-for-4 in 1,000-yard seasons; Cooper is 7-for-9. A Bills team gunning for its first Super Bowl berth since 1993 will soon deploy Cooper as part of its championship effort, while the Browns — thanks to their historic Watson guarantee tying them to the embattled QB through 2026 — will pick up an asset as they reassess their passing game.

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