Browns Best Moves of 2022: #3 Trading for Amari Cooper
In this story:
In exchange for the low cost of a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-round picks, the Cleveland Browns added an X receiver that was able to hit the ground running and completely change the outlook for the offense in his first season. The Dallas Cowboys saved $20 million in salary in addition to the draft assets, but much of the season was spent suffering seller's remorse over the loss of Amari Cooper.
Cooper went from being taken for granted in Dallas to being the focal point of the passing game in Cleveland. In Cooper, the Browns got a true #1 receiver able to win at every level of the field. He also set the pecking order for the receiver room, which helped to put Donovan Peoples-Jones in the best position to succeed. It also coincided with a strong season from tight end David Njoku, giving the Browns three capable options in the passing game.
Cooper possesses excellent speed and the body control to be a terrific route runner. But at 6'1" and around 210 pounds, he's able to overpower opposing defensive backs to create separation or generate yards after the catch. It's also useful for run blocking.
Part of what allowed Cooper to be so effective was how well he fits the offense the Browns want to run under head coach Kevin Stefanski. In his first season with Stefanski, he produced 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns, the best season from a Browns pass catcher since Jarvis Landry in 2019 or perhaps Gary Barnidge in 2015. He's the most complete receiver the team he has since Josh Gordon when considering Odell Beckham Jr. was healthy for approximately six weeks during his tenure with the Browns.
And while so much pressure is on the Browns and specifically heralded quarterback Deshaun Watson to deliver on the investment the team made in him, much of the excitement is based on the amount of weapons the team has, notably including Cooper, who has two years left on his current deal.
Before the Browns made the trade for Cooper, the offense had question marks everywhere outside of the offensive line and running back. The acquisition of Cooper along with strong seasons from Njoku and DPJ suddenly has the Browns offense full of possibility. Along with Nick Chubb and a strong offensive line, Watson has everything in place around him to succeed.
Cooper had a great 2022 season, but there's reason to believe he could be even better in 2023. He played through a hip issue most of the second half of the season. Additionally, the expectation is that with a full offseason, a substantial amount of which will be spent working on the scramble drill, Watson will be far more confident and the whole operation will be smoother.
With Cooper and an emerging DPJ, it also allowed the rest of the young receivers to develop at their own pace. Whether it was Anthony Schwartz or rookies David Bell and Michael Woods II, the Browns didn't need them to be big parts of the offense. They were able to contribute when the situation presented itself. Those players still have to prove themselves, but by not rushing them, it could allow them to make more meaningful contributions in 2023.
The main reason this move doesn't rank higher is simply because there weren't many teams that were in position to make this trade. Not only did the Browns have the cap space to make it work, but they were in the other conference and not on the Cowboys schedule.
It's absolutely a credit to general manager Andrew Berry and the team's ongoing plan to maximize the salary cap that enabled the Browns to be in position to take advantage of this opportunity. However, the reason it cost as little as it did was because there were so few suitors.
Heading into an offseason where veteran wide receivers like Brandin Cooks, DeAndre Hopkins and perhaps Robert Woods could all be traded, it will be interesting to see what their current teams get in return. The price is likely to be higher, which could make the Cooper trade look even better.
One of the underrated aspects of this past season was watching Amari Cooper play great for the Browns as Cowboys fans and media both wished he was still playing for Dallas. If that wasn't enough, owner Jerry Jones, who decided Cooper was no longer worth his salary, has openly flirted with the idea of paying other receivers including Odell Beckham Jr. the same amount of money, desperately hoping they could be as productive as Cooper was.
From his professionalism off the field to his production on it, Amari Cooper has been everything the Cleveland Browns could've hoped. There's little reason to believe that won't continue.
