After watching Justin Herbert get pummeled with nobody to throw to there are two things LA Chargers fans want heading into the bye week: more offensive line help and more weapons in the passing game.
The offensive line help will come when Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are healthy. The interior offensive line could use some work but the Chargers are not going to find a reasonable upgrade during the season. Teams do not trade quality offensive linemen, even if the team is not a contender.
Los Angeles will also get some internal wide receiver help as well but it may not be enough. The Chargers entered the 2024 season with one of the worst pass-catching groups in the sport, and if the team is serious about making a playoff push this season, LA needs to improve that group.
It looks like the Chargers (and the rest of the NFL) have a new potential trade target to accomplish just that. After a 1-3 start with no reprieve in sight, the Cleveland Browns may be gearing up to trade Amari Cooper.
The #Browns converted all but $1.21M of WR Amari Cooper's 2024 salary into signing bonus, making him an extremely affordable trade candidate.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) September 30, 2024
Now: $941,111
Deadline: $605,000
Amari Cooper would make a lot of sense for the Chargers... at the right price
Amari Cooper is by no means in his prime and is not going to be a Tyreek Hill-level game-changer who would come to Los Angeles and instantly take the top off defenses. However, he would add a veteran presence to an inexperienced wide receiver room that desperately needs it.
While Herbert is starting to build a rapport with Ladd McConkey and is trusting Quentin Johnston more, he still does not have that reliable veteran outlet that he has had his entire career. Cooper, while not being in his prime, can still offer that.
Cooper has proven he can still be productive in today's game and his lack of numbers this season may be more indicative of his quarterback situation. Just last year the former Dallas Cowboys wideout finished with 1,250 yards on 72 catches. He would instantly slot in as the best wide receiver on the Chargers.
Now, there are multiple variables to consider when factoring in what price makes sense for Cooper. Cooper is playing on an expiring contract and would likely be a half-season rental for the Chargers. Unless the team could re-sign him at a discount, it is unlikely the Chargers would pay Cooper after this season after trading Keenan Allen to cut costs.
The Chargers would also have to get Cooper's buy-in for this to make sense. If he only wants to be traded to a team that will work out a new contract then this won't work. However, with a star quarterback and plenty of potential, Cooper may welcome a trade to the Chargers as it may maximize his free agency value.
So what is the right price for Cooper? In a perfect world the Chargers could get away with trading the same pick they received for Allen: a fourth-round pick. With multiple projected compensatory picks coming the Chargers' way in 2025, the team can afford to trade a fourth-round pick to improve this year's team.
A third-round pick is probably a bit too rich for the Chargers but is not an absolute dealbreaker. There could be a situation in which it is a conditional fourth that turns into a third depending on how much Cooper produces. If that is the case, it is easier to stomach.
Either way, the Chargers have proven they still want to win as many games as possible this season by playing Herbert on a bum ankle. With the team serious about making a playoff push, it makes sense to add reinforcements.