Wide receiver Amari Cooper. Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Browns acquire WR Amari Cooper from Cowboys

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 3/12/22

The Cleveland Browns are making a big move to get a significant weapon for Baker Mayfield.

The Browns are acquiring Amari Cooper from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for two late-round draft picks, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Cowboys are finalizing a trade to send WR Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for a 2022 fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick, per league sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2022

The Cowboys were set to move on from Cooper no matter what, as their salary cap issues made the $20 million he is due in 2022 unpalatable. Cooper will welcome a trade, however, as it means that he will still get that money. Had the Cowboys simply released him, he likely would not have received that much on the open market.

The Browns clearly wanted to upgrade their offense and find a clear No. 1 option for Mayfield, and they will hope Cooper is the answer. He posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020 before seeing a slight drop in production in 2021. Even in a "down" year, Cooper managed 865 receiving yards and tied a career-high with eight touchdown catches.

Cleveland is banking on Cooper getting healthy and rediscovering his top form.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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