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Who won in the big WR trades this week?
Two massive wide receiver trades shook the NFL on Tuesday, and both of them were largely expected.
Davante Adams finally got dealt from the struggling Raiders, finding a new home in New York with a family face in Aaron Rodgers. Adams to the Jets was the most-likely scenario in trade rumors, with it being a natural landing spot for the veteran receiver.
The more shocking trade came later in the day, with Amari Cooper being dealt from the Browns to the Bills in a move designed to solidify Buffalo’s offense for a playoff push, with Cleveland accepting that 2024 is a disaster offensively, and recoup something for Cooper before he inevitably leaves for free agency at the end of the season.
We’re left with two players, four teams and a variety of circumstances. How did these two trades shake out for everyone involved?
Davante Adams to the Jets
There’s no question this was a big get for New York. While Rodgers has been effective throwing to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, it’s the other outside spot which has been a huge problem. Rodgers and Mike Williams have not been on the same page in 2024, and it’s actively hurting the offense.
This now moves Davante Adams across from Wilson, with Lazard working out of the slot. It’s a much better scenario all-around, and should open up the passing offense far more than Williams allowed for.
While the football side of this makes a lot of sense, it gets a little trickier in the numbers. There’s no doubt that in terms of compensation the Jets got Adams for a song. He’s still an elite receiver, and paired with Wilson gives the Jets a hell of a one-two punch.
That said, he’s also set to make a lot of money. Much of this hinges on whether the Jets can win the Super Bowl, or if Rodgers returns in 2025. If neither of these happens then New York is overspending at WR and it’s questionable whether they can afford it. That said, those future worries are fairly minor considering the circumstances.
Jets grade: A-
When it comes to the Raiders this was a necessary trade indicative of the abject disaster this entire deal has been. Ultimately the team sent a 1st round pick to get two years of great play that amounted in nothing, and got a paltry sum back.
Shedding the salary is really great for Las Vegas, and might allow them to actually, properly rebuild. However, not even managing to get a 2nd round pick for Adams is ridiculous. The Jets managed to put such tight constraints on the deal that it’s highly unlikely the Raiders see a second rounder in the trade — meaning they got fleeced from a talent perspective.
Raiders grade: B-
Amari Cooper to the Bills
Nobody in the NFL is getting a bigger glow up than Amari Cooper, who leaves behind the absolutely abhorrent Deshaun Watson and lands on a team with real Super Bowl potential, led by one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman have been incredible for Buffalo, but the Curtis Samuel signing hasn’t really worked out. Cooper fills that need at a plus level, and should diversify an already strong passing attack.
The only area this could falter is if Cooper’s struggles are the new normal. While a lot of his problems in Cleveland were due to Watson, he didn’t help himself with nine dropped passes in 2024, two of which resulted in interceptions. There’s no doubt we’ll need to see a better Amari Cooper in Buffalo for this to have the effect of making the Bills an elite team, but there’s every reason to believe this will work.
Was spending a 3rd on Cooper a bit of an overpay for a rental for the remainder of 2024? Perhaps, but if this is what takes the Bills over the top then it’s well worth it.
Bills grade: B+
What’s left to say on the other side of this? The Browns are an utter mess and this only makes the team worse. It was nice Cleveland turned nothing into something, but a 3rd round pick is cold comfort with an anchor like Watson dragging the entire franchise down. In terms of this deal though, the Browns got about the same compensation as the Raiders for a significantly worse player. That’s a solid deal.
Browns grade: B+
