Three years ago to the month, the Cleveland Browns made a blockbuster trade for the player they believed would be their long-term No. 1 wide receiver. The Pro Bowl performer in Cleveland, who had been for the New York Giants, never materialized into him. He had injuries. He reportedly told teams to come get him out of Cleveland during the season. He forced his way out in the middle of the 2021 season via his father, who posted a video on social media highlighting times when he missed Beckham or didn't throw the ball to him. The Los Angeles Rams won a Super Bowl after the Cleveland Browns released OBJ. Since Week 2, when he tore a labrum in his non-throwing, left shoulder, he has continued to struggle. Cleveland's passing game fell apart. The team missed the playoffs on the way to a disappointing finish. The top 100 deals.
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As the team attempts to retool their passing attack, they have now taken another big swing at a big-name, would-be No. 1 wide receiver.
The Cowboys agreed to trade Cooper for a fifth-round pick in 2022. The teams will swap picks.
Cleveland is banking that Cooper will be a go-to wide receiver, like Beckham never was.
Cooper has ranked ninth in receiving yards, ninth in receiving touchdown and ninth in targets since his debut in Dallas in Week 9 of the season.
He has a reputation as a terrific route runner who can get open, which should benefit him, assuming the Browns stick with him as their quarterback.
According to Martin, Cleveland inquired about Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. A grand jury in Houston did not indict him. He is accused of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions.
If Cooper is traded to Cleveland, he would have to waive a no-trade clause to join the team.
If Andrew Berry remains committed to Mayfield, Cooper should bolster the passing game and give him the weapon he will need to deliver a bounce-back season in his fifth.
The worst touchdown-to-interception ratio to wideouts of any non-rookie in the NFL last year was posted by Mayfield. He had the third-worst QBR targeting wide receivers.
When he quarterbacked the Cleveland Browns to their first playoff victory in 26 years, he failed to match his brilliance of 2020 because of his shoulder injury. The Cleveland receiving corps, consisting of Beckham for less than half the season, was disappointing.
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The only one who had more than 35 catches was the only one who had more than 600 receiving yards.
Cleveland's receiving corps couldn't pass the ball in a way Cooper should.
During his time in Dallas, Cooper had the best vertical target catch percentage of any receiver in the league with at least 90 vertical targets. He tied for the fourth-most receiving touchdown on vertical targets with 17, trailing only Tyler Lockett and the Green Bay Packers.
Beckham had only 26 catches on 73 vertical targets and four touchdown catches in 29 games with the Browns.
The receiving corps might not be the last upgrade for the Browns. They own the 13th pick in the draft, which could give them the chance to select a blue-chip receiver, like Ohio State's Chris Olave or USC's Garrett Wilson.
The Browns already have that coveted No. 1 receiver.
They are banking on Cooper to be on the field in Cleveland.
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