To Buffalo’s credit, on October 15, the Bills made their own audacious move! They inherited wide receiver Amari Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round pick in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. In return, the Browns sent Watson to the Falcons and received a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick. This trade was one of several deals that reconfigured team rosters as the NFL neared the deadline.
The Bills, fresh off an impressive 13-win season, were hoping to add some impact talent to their receiving corps. Narrative-wise, Amari Cooper just finished a magnificent campaign. He posted 72 catches while racking up 1,250 yards, asserting himself as a premier route runner. The Bills signed Cooper as an offensive weapon. Last year, they heavily relied on players such as Khalil Shakir to be a consistent slot option and possession receiver and Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, and occasionally Curtis Samuel to be the outside options.
Trade Details and Implications
The price for the Bills to get Cooper was a trade of fifth- and sixth-round picks. This savvy addition gave the Bills a familiar veteran presence at receiver. It re-stressed their commitment to building a winner and not winding down with an easy exit into MLS 2.0. Cooper’s eye-popping numbers illustrate the difference he has and will make on the field. That’s a huge jump from Fuller’s average of 2.0 yards per route run since joining the Bills.
Unlike their former front office mates, the Browns made good on their copious acquired picks, shoring up their future. Rather than gut their immediate offense, by getting a third-round pick for Cooper, they put themselves in a better position for future drafts. That extra seventh-rounder in 2026 gave them some more flexibility to do what they’re doing—still further constructing their roster.
Additional Trades Reshaping Team Dynamics
When the Dallas Cowboys traded for wide receiver Amari Cooper on November 5, it might have been their biggest trade ever. They traded wide receiver Jonathan Mingo to the Carolina Panthers for a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick. The Cowboys looking to shake things up in their receiving corps got greedy and took a chance on Mingo’s upside. Acquiring a 2025 fourth-round pick as part of this deal, the Panthers added exactly the type of foundational asset that can accelerate their ongoing rebuild.
That trades spree carried on with the Baltimore Ravens landing Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers on October 29. The Ravens got Johnson and a 2025 sixth-rounder while the Panthers got a fifth-rounder back. Johnson lost significant traction with his recent play as he fizzled out as a valuable player in the league. Whatever the case, the Ravens were able to identify value within that risk with Johnson.
Strategic Moves for Future Success
Each deal is a manifestation, not just of short-term talent acquisition, but long-term vision and strategy of creating sustained success. The Bills’ trade for Amari Cooper was a sign that they were ready to make a big splash on offense. With this available talent, they indeed hoped to cement themselves among the league’s long-term contenders.
In return, the Browns received a treasure trove of draft picks. This provided them with an opportunity to invest in young talent and build up their roster depth. This approach has become increasingly critical in today’s NFL, where building through the draft often proves more sustainable than relying solely on high-priced free agents.
The Cowboys and Ravens’ trades are a great continuation of showing how teams are positioning themselves to succeed in the NFL’s new landscape. Both teams demonstrated their desire to take a risk on upside by trading for younger players such as Mingo. They improved their fortunes in coming drafts as well when they took a chance on Johnson.
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