Buffalo, NY – May 3, 2025
Former Buffalo Bills star Amari Cooper expressed deep frustration after the team signed Elijah Moore to a one-year, $5 million deal, effectively closing the door on his return, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The five-time Pro Bowler, who joined the Bills midseason 2024, hoped to reunite with Josh Allen but now faces an uncertain future.
Cooper, 30, recorded 20 receptions for 297 yards and two touchdowns in eight games with Buffalo before a wrist injury sidelined his playoff run. As an unrestricted free agent, he anticipated a new deal, but Brandon Beane’s pivot to Moore, a younger, cheaper option, left Cooper feeling blindsided, sources said.
“I gave Buffalo everything,” Cooper told The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia. “It stings to see the door shut like this.”
Moore, 25, brings a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and 61 catches from 2024 with Cleveland, fitting Joe Brady’s RPO scheme. The Bills, with a $5.3 million cap, prioritized Moore’s versatility over Cooper’s $37.8 million market value, per Spotrac. James Cook’s $15 million contract dispute further tightened Buffalo’s budget, forcing tough choices.
“Moore’s our spark,” said NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks. “Allen’s offense needs speed, not sentiment.”
The Bills’ receiver room, now featuring Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer, and Curtis Samuel, is crowded, with Kaden Prather adding depth. Cooper’s 10,974 career yards and route-running prowess couldn’t outweigh Beane’s focus on youth and cap flexibility, especially after cuts like Dane Jackson freed $7.3 million.
Cooper, who bonded with Allen’s 4,306-yard attack, believed he could reclaim a WR1 role. His disappointment echoes Bills Mafia’s mixed sentiments, with some fans lamenting the loss of his veteran presence. Others back Moore’s upside, seeing him as a long-term fit for Buffalo’s 18th-ranked passing attack (7.6 yards per attempt).
As Cooper explores options with teams like the Saints, the Bills forge ahead, banking on Moore to stretch defenses and Cook’s 1,086 rushing yards to fuel their 2025 Super Bowl run. Allen’s leadership remains the anchor, but Cooper’s absence leaves a void.
