The Cleveland Browns are looking towards 2025 after their horrible start to this season with their losing record of 1-5, and this week, they made a major decision that will impact their future.
Earlier in the week, Cleveland traded away star wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills, and there were some late pick swaps in there, but the biggest return the Browns got back was a third-round pick in this upcoming draft.
Cooper was not signed under contract for next season, and the Browns made the right move to trade him and get something that will help them build up the team later down the road.
There was no point in keeping Cooper around this year when the season was over, but one major media outlet didn’t like the trade on the Browns end.
Bleacher Report Gives The Cleveland Browns A Bad Grade
BR NFL Staff published an article titled “2024 NFL Trade Grades: Davante Adams, Amari Cooper Deals Kick-Start Deadline Moves,” in which Maurice Moton commented on the Browns’ and Bills’ big trade.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Buffalo Bills “monitored” Davante Adams’ situation with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, NFL insiders didn’t discuss them as aggressive suitors for the three-time All-Pro.
Hours after the New York Jets made their move for Adams, the Bills landed Amari Cooper.
Cooper is averaging a career-low 41.7 receiving yards per game. He played in a disjointed offense led by quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s thrown for five touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 61.3 percent of his passes.
Cooper’s six-week stretch this year closely resembles his final season with the then-Oakland Raiders before they traded him to the Dallas Cowboys. He’s still a quality receiver with a poor supporting cast.
Like his move to Dallas, the 30-year-old should shine again in Buffalo with a Pro Bowl-level quarterback.
Unlike the Jets, the Bills didn’t give up a potential second-rounder, and they took on a less expensive contract compared to Adams’ deal, making a significant upgrade to their wide receiver corps, which makes sense with Khalil Shakir (ankle) banged up and rookie second-rounder Keon Coleman’s modest receiving production.
The Browns likely realized they won’t make the playoffs this season. So, general manager Andrew Berry moved a valuable asset for a Day 2 pick and swapped late-round selections between 2025 and 2026.
However, Cleveland could have avoided this situation if the coaching staff had benched Watson in hopes of unlocking the offense’s potential.
Yes, the Browns signed the 29-year-old to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal in 2022, but he’s a big part of the problem in Cleveland right now. Because head coach Kevin Stefanski is unwilling to at least give Jameis Winston a shot to uplift the passing attack, the team has to sell its playmakers in a 1-5 start to the season.
Watson will likely continue to throw inaccurate passes behind a shaky offensive line as the Browns remain at the bottom of the standings. Running back Nick Chubb’s imminent return won’t salvage their offense.
Cleveland received decent draft capital for Cooper, but it created this problem with a questionable extension for Watson and unwavering faith in him to turn his season around.
Bills grade: A
Browns grade: D