Four-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper is headed to the Rock and Roll City. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cooper is joining the Cleveland Browns with Dallas receiving a 2022 fifth-rounder to complete the trade. The Browns and Cowboys are also swapping sixth-rounders.
Getting a fifth-rounder back should be viewed as a win for the Cowboys, who were planning to release Cooper anyway. The former first-round pick will absorb a $22-million cap hit in 2022, second-highest among wide receivers. Coming off a relatively down year—Cooper’s 865 receiving yards were his fewest since 2017—the 27-year-old was viewed as expendable with CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup (who the Cowboys are expected to retain in free agency) both emerging as capable targets for Dak Prescott.
Cooper tied for the team lead in touchdowns last season (eight) but struggled with consistency, yo-yoing between dominant (139 yards and two touchdowns at Tampa Bay) and nonexistent (eight yards on two catches against the Giants). As noted by Joel Correy of CBS Sports, Cooper’s departure frees up $16 million in cap space.
Cooper gives Cleveland a deep threat to pair with veteran slot receiver Jarvis Landry (assuming this isn't a precursor for Landry being traded) as the Browns look to rebound from a disappointing season that saw them lose eight of their final 13 games after getting off to a 3-1 start. The trade should come as great news for Baker Mayfield, who enters a make-or-break season in 2022 heading into the final year of his rookie contract. The Browns can only hope Cooper works out better than their failed Odell Beckham experiment, with OBJ flaming out in spectacular fashion, only to resurrect his career as a Super Bowl champion with the Rams months later.
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