Did Amari Cooper’s trade to Bills salvage his career?

It was announced on Tuesday that the Cleveland Browns traded Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills.

The trade between the Bills and Browns may have single-handedly salvaged the 30-year-old wide receiver’s career.

The 10-year veteran, Cooper has not been yielding his normal offensive production so far this season. And it’s not his fault. Prior to this season, the five-time Pro Bowler averaged 67.8 yards per game, 4.8 receptions per game and a 61.9 catch percentage. This season, in six games with the Browns, Cooper has averaged 41.7 yards per game and 4.0 receptions per game with a paltry 45.3 catch percentage.

So, has Amari Cooper regressed to a pedestrian wide receiver? No.

The Browns offense has been a sinking ship. They rank dead last in the NFL in points, last in first downs, 27th in passing touchdowns and 32nd in net yards per pass attempt.

Cooper’s quarterback in Cleveland, Deshaun Watson, has a quarterback rating that is 28th in the league. His QBR is 31st in the league and his “On Target %” is 17th in the league.

By trading for Amari Cooper, Bills general manager Brandon Beane has thrown him a life raft. They are saving him from what was on pace to be his least-productive season, and preventing a wasted season of what may be the back-end of an excellent career.

And although, Cooper has been among the league leaders in targets every season since his rookie year, all reports state that he has a great locker room presence and is team-oriented—something that will go a long way toward the “everyone eats” mantra that has been going around the Bills locker room.