Most, if not all Bills fans jumped for joy when it was announced that the Bills had traded for wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. As part of the trade, both teams exchanged late round draft picks and the Browns also got a 2025 3rd round pick from Buffalo.
It’s no surprise to see the Bills make this move due to the current state of their wide receiver room. The “everybody eats” mentality has come back down to Earth after a hot 3-0 start. The Bills now get a quality veteran receiver who has been affected by bad play in Cleveland by Deshaun Watson. Going from Watson to Josh Allen is a fantastic gift for Cooper.
However, the Cooper trade unfortunately has put a player in an awkward spot by losing a roster spot. Wide receiver Marquez Valdes–Scantling was released by the Bills in order to make room for Cooper. The news was reported by Ian Rapoport.
Source: The #Bills are releasing Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a move to create space for newly acquired Amari Cooper.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 15, 2024
MVS was a disappointment in Buffalo
Through six games, Valdes-Scantling was targeted only 9 times and had just 2 receptions for 26 yards. The former Super Bowl champion was signed to the Bills this past summer to serve as a deep-threat for the offense. He came from the Kansas City Chiefs where he served as a down-the-field option for Patrick Mahomes.
Unfortunately, it just didn’t pan out for MVS, who has been outshined by essentially everyone in the WR room except for Curtis Samuel.
The depth chart at the wide receiver spot is going to look a little different for the Bills heading into Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans. They add in Cooper as the true number one receiver, which will allow Khalil Shakir to play more of his natural spot in the slot without being covered by a defenses' best corner. Then you have Keon Coleman who has been up and down this season with inconsistency, he now has the chance to get some valuable reps in rather than try to be a number one receiver early in his rookie year.
Someone was going to be affected by this Cooper move and MVS was looked at as the weakest option that was holding the Bills back.