Bills GM Brandon Beane reveals Amari Cooper has been on his radar since 2015 NFL draft

On Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills made a big move by acquiring wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. Buffalo sent Cleveland a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round pick.

Cooper began his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders after he was drafted fourth overall in the 2015 NFL draft.

Coming out of Alabama, Cooper was ranked as the No. 1 WR prospect in the draft. Bills general manager Brandon Beane, who at the time was the Carolina Panthers' assistant general manager, said he flew down to Alabama to meet with Cooper, in hopes that he would have fallen to the Panthers.

Beane talked about having his eye on Amari Cooper in 2015 on the "Pat McAfee Show:"

"When I was in Carolina and he came out in 2015, I actually went out to Alabama with Ricky Pearl, our receiver coach and Amari was not going to work out, Beane said on Wednesday. "But, you know, we were, we were not picking as high as he got picked, but he was, you know, you always want to do your due diligence."

Beane also shared how he spent time with Cooper and even watched film with him.

"So we spent probably two hours watching film with him, took him out to dinner, and really got a feel for his love of ball, his understanding of football, super football, smart passion. It was just kind of really, we opened some of his practice film at Bama and he broke it down for us. And I left there going, Man, this guy would be a great addition. Obviously, the Raiders took him."

Now Beane has a player on his team that he wanted nearly 10 years ago.

Will Amari Cooper make his debut with the Buffalo Bills this Sunday?

Cleveland Browns v Las Vegas Raiders - Source: Getty

The Buffalo Bills will take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 7. Will they have Amari Cooper available for his first game as a Bill on Sunday?

It is unknown if Cooper will suit up. It's tough for a player to debut for a new team just five days after being traded. Then again, Cooper has now been traded three times and is an NFL vet who could see action.

After Tuesday's trade, Cooper will be held out of the Bills' walkthrough practice on Wednesday but will participate in his first practice on Thursday.

Bills coach Sean McDermott said no decision has been made yet on Cooper.

However, it is a good sign that Amari Cooper will participate in Thursday's practice, and his next two practices should give a good indication of whether or not he will be available against the Titans.