Chargers must rescue this obvious trade target for Justin Herbert's sake

The LA Chargers have a star quarterback under center and have not done a great job of supporting him. Despite the new front office's best efforts to build a better offensive line, Justin Herbert is still dealing with the same pressure issues he has dealt with for most of his career in the NFL.

And to make matters worse, Herbert does not have the same caliber of passing weapons as he did previously. As a result, the offense has struggled to throw the ball despite Herbert's elite status, as indicated by his place on the passing yards charts.

Herbert needs more help and thankfully, new general manager Joe Hortiz is not afraid to make trades unlike his predecessor. Trading for offensive line help is wholly unrealistic so the Chargers instead must focus on the wide receiver market.

In that market, there is one beyond obvious trade candidate who Hortiz needs to rescue before another team does it themselves: Amari Cooper.

Chargers must buy-low on Amari Cooper before it is too late

The Cleveland Browns are 1-4 through five games this season and have already played their hand when it comes to Cooper. Cleveland converted some of Cooper's salary to make him a smaller cap hit in a potential trade, shouting to the rest of the NFL that he is on the trade block.

Cooper is playing in the last year of his contract after being unable to come to an agreement on a contract extension with Cleveland. With how the team is trending, there is no reason for the Browns to hold onto Cooper if he is just going to walk in the spring. Cleveland may not get much for Cooper, but it is better than getting nothing.

As for Cooper, it is in his best interest to go to a team with a star quarterback and no clear-cut WR1. The Chargers are that team and there, Cooper could potentially raise his value for free agency.

Cooper's numbers are not great thus far — 20 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns — but it obviously is not his fault. As Clay outlines in the post above, Cooper is dealing with a quarterback in Deshaun Watson who cannot consistently get him the football on target.

Do you know who could get him the ball on target? Justin Herbert.

Cooper's "struggles" actually help the Chargers. Because of his age, his status as a half-season rental, and his slow start to the year, the trade cost for Cooper is not going to be very high. If Keenan Allen went for a fourth after the 2023 season he had then Cooper, at the absolute most, will go for a fifth-round pick.

Even that might be overshooting it as the Chargers could probably land Cooper for a sixth and seventh-round pick depending on his market.

It is a matter of splitting hairs, though. If the Chargers can upgrade the passing game for a day-three pick they should do it every time; especially considering the team is projected to get multiple compensatory picks in the 2025 NFL Draft anyway.