Bills Urged to Target Another Pro Bowl WR Amid Davante Adams Rumors

The Buffalo Bills might be looking for help at wide receiver just as All-Pro Davante Adams seems to be on the trading block. Many view this as a perfect opportunity for quarterback Josh Allen to acquire a reliable No. 1 target following Stefon Diggs’ exit last offseason.

However, analyst Ralph Ventre from SI.com believes the Bills should consider a different Pro Bowler: Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. Ventre points out that Cooper would likely cost less than the second-round pick reportedly sought by the Las Vegas Raiders for Adams.

“With the Browns (1-3) slipping further from playoff contention, veteran Amari Cooper might be up for trade,” Ventre stated. “His asking price wouldn’t exceed a second-round pick, and that might even be an overestimate, considering Cleveland acquired him for nearly a fifth-rounder in 2022.”

While many insiders have linked the Bills to a potential trade for Adams, Ventre argues that the Bills don’t meet Adams’ preferred criteria. He noted, “Rumors indicate Adams wants to reunite with a quarterback he knows well, making Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets and Derek Carr of the New Orleans Saints top candidates.”

Ventre believes the Bills face “too many obstacles” in pursuing Adams, suggesting that Cooper would be a more sensible choice to enhance their receiving corps.

Cooper had a strong season last year, recording 72 catches for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns, despite playing on an often struggling Browns offense. Although his start this season has been slower, he has still managed 16 receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

“If acquired today, Cooper would require less than $1 million in salary cap space according to Spotrac,” Ventre wrote. “It seems doable and Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane would be smart to get it done.”

Bills Looking for Top Receiver

After the departures of Diggs and No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis last offseason, the Bills adopted an approach of “everybody eats” where they would spread targets to a wide group of talented receivers.

While the approach has worked in spreading the ball out — there are five players with eight or more receptions — there is no clear-cut top receiver and none on pace to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Khalil Shakir, the team’s top returning wide receiver, leads the team with 18 receptions for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

The group fell flat in Buffalo’s 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, with ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg pointing out that the team passing game struggled against an aggressive defense.

“After putting up 30-plus points in the first three games, this was a relative no-show,” Getzenberg noted. “The Bills streak of 41 straight regular-season games of scoring more than 10 points ended, the longest active streak in the NFL. The offense went 2-11 on third down and Allen completed 16 of 29 passes (55.2%), down from his 75% average to start the season. The offensive line had a tough night with Allen pressured on 44.1% of throws and sacked three times after two sacks on the season.”