The 2022 Amari Cooper Trade: Cleveland Bought a No. 1 Receiver for a Fifth-Round Pick
Cleveland sent Dallas a fifth-round pick and swapped sixth-rounders for Amari Cooper. Cooper answered with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and one of the best receiving games in Browns history.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Amari Cooper
- pick 2022 6th round pick (202nd overall, Michael Woods)
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 2022 6th round pick (193rd overall, Devin Harper)
- pick 2022 5th round pick (155th overall, Matt Waletzko)
Trade Summary
Cleveland acquired Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick for late-round compensation. Cooper delivered consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and gave the Browns a true No. 1 receiver before Cleveland later recovered additional value in another trade. Dallas created salary flexibility but received limited on-field return from Matt Waletzko and Devin Harper.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Cleveland acquired Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick from Dallas for a fifth-round selection and a swap of sixth-rounders. The Cowboys were primarily creating financial flexibility before Cooper's 2022 salary became guaranteed. The Browns were taking advantage of that cap-driven decision to acquire a proven No. 1 receiver for a remarkably small draft price.
What Cooper Delivered
The production quickly justified the move. Cooper led Cleveland with 1,160 receiving yards in 2022 and followed with 1,250 in 2023. The Browns noted that he became the first player in franchise history to post consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. His 265-yard performance at Houston in December 2023 also set a Browns single-game receiving record.
What Dallas Received
Dallas used the incoming selections on Matt Waletzko and Devin Harper. The Cowboys also created significant cap room, which was a real roster-management objective. But cap flexibility is only part of the evaluation. Neither drafted player developed into an on-field asset comparable to Cooper during his Cleveland tenure.
Why the Price Matters
This was not a case of Cleveland paying premium capital for an expensive veteran. A fifth-round pick plus a late-round swap is a low acquisition cost for multiple seasons of top-receiver production. The Browns also later traded Cooper rather than simply letting the asset disappear, adding another layer to the overall value chain.
Final Verdict
The Cleveland Browns Win verdict is decisive. Dallas had understandable salary reasons for moving Cooper, but Cleveland acquired the best player by a wide margin and received two 1,000-yard seasons without sacrificing meaningful premium draft capital.