The Buffalo Bills’ acquisition of Amari Cooper provides a legit No. 1 threat to the AFC East leaders.
Following the move, the Bills brass made it clear that the goal was to get a wideout who could create separation and make life easier for Josh Allen.
“Those qualities are important. Having the ability to get separation, I think, just adds to our flavor on offense. We’ve been doing some good things. I think that will be an added bonus for us as we move forward here,” coach Sean McDermott said Tuesday, via the team’s official website.
Buffalo sent a 2025 third- and 2026 seventh-round draft pick to Cleveland for Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round selection (from Detroit).
Cooper is off to a slow start this season but ranked third among all wideouts in yards per reception (17.4) in 2023 and 12th with 47 receptions of 10-plus yards.
Cooper leads the NFL with 473 air yards on incomplete targets in 2024, per Next Gen Stats, highlighting his ability to get open, even if his rapport with Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been off.
Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady underscored that Cooper’s skill at winning off the line of scrimmage adds a needed element to the offense.
“Him and his releases, his ability to create separation,” Brady said. “He does such a great job at that.”
Familiarity with Bills wide receiver coach Adam Henry, who spent two seasons with Cooper in Dallas (2020 and 2021), helped buoy the comfort level in bringing in the wide receiver mid-season.
Buffalo entered the campaign hoping to use a gaggle of receivers to fill the holes left by Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. After six weeks, the plan wasn’t working as they’d hoped. Credit the Bills for adjusting on the fly to give Allen another target.
“First and foremost, we believe in the receivers that we already have in the room,” McDermott said. “We’ll see when Amari gets here and how we can get him up to speed and get him integrated into what we do and how we do things. It’s never about one guy. We’re thankful to have him, but it’s never about just one guy. It’s about the team, so we’re anxious to get him on board here and get rolling.”
The Bills host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, who have allowed 248.8 total yards and 137.0 passing yards per game, both the fewest in the NFL.
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