Wed, Mar 16, 2022 at 4:00pm

AMARI COOPER TO CLEVELAND

The Cleveland Browns acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper and a sixth-round draft pick in 2022 (No. 201 overall) from the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round draft pick in 2022 (No. 154 overall) and a sixth-round draft pick in 2022 (No. 191 overall).

What does it give the Cleveland Browns
In Cooper, the Browns get a true No. 1 wideout for a team that moved on from Odell Beckham Jr. this past season. Cooper should be able to make life easier for Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield, provided the latter improves as a downfield passer. From a value standpoint, the Browns could not have done much better here. The ball is now in Mayfield's court.

What does it give the Dallas Cowboys
For the Cowboys, this is far better than just releasing Cooper (which was the expected outcome this off-season). Dallas needed to cut ties with Cooper's $20 million cap hit, so getting back late draft assets should be viewed as a bonus here. Dallas still has CeeDee Lamb and tight end Dalton Schultz, plus they will try to re-sign Michael Gallup as well.

Fantasy impact
Cooper's fantasy status could be hurt by this trade, since Cleveland's offense is nowhere near as dynamic as that of the Cowboys. He should be downgraded on most fantasy leaguers' draft lists going into 2022.