Miami, FL – April 10, 2025
The Miami Dolphins just pulled off a stunner, signing former Buffalo Bills superstar wide receiver Amari Cooper to a 2-year, $24 million deal, sources told ESPN Thursday. With Tyreek Hill’s exit—traded to the New York Jets for a 2025 second-round pick amid cap woes—GM Chris Grier snagged the five-time Pro Bowler to keep Tua Tagovailoa’s offense humming (Spotrac).
Hill’s $27.7 million cap hit forced Miami to shed his $72.2 million guaranteed burden (Spotrac), opening $8.2 million in space—enough to ink Cooper after slashing Xavien Howard’s deal (SI.com). The 31-year-old WR, fresh off a Bills stint, lands in South Beach as a free agent eager to shine (NFL.com).
Cooper’s Bills run in 2024 was brief—20 catches, 297 yards, 3 TDs in 9 games after a midseason trade from Cleveland (NFL.com). His 547 total yards and 4 TDs that year paled next to Hill’s 1.138 yards, but his 12.4 yards per catch and route-running savvy still dazzle (SI.com). He’s no Hill, but he’s a star.
Over 10 seasons, Cooper’s piled up 10.194 yards and 67 TDs—seven 1.000-yard campaigns (NFL.com). His 2023 peak with Cleveland (1.250 yards) outshines Miami’s WR2 Jaylen Waddle’s best (SI.com). At 6’1”, 211 pounds, he’s a veteran fix for a Dolphins attack craving stability (Spotrac).
Dolphins fans cheered on X: “Cooper’s in, Hill’s out? Tua’s still got a weapon!” Hill’s trade—sparked by a playoff miss—left Miami reeling, but Cooper’s quiet grit swaps flash for reliability (SI.com). Bills Mafia, though, sighed: “We lost another one” (Buffalo Rumblings).
Grier’s cap shuffle—$24 million over 2 years, $12 million AAV—beats Cooper’s $15 million ask from Buffalo (Spotrac). His Bills exit, post a $5.2 million cap crunch, left Beane eyeing draft picks over vets (SI.com). Miami pounced when Hill bolted (NFL.com).
Two Bills-Dolphins clashes loom—Cooper facing his old squad could sting (NFL.com). His 2024 lateral-to-TD spark with Josh Allen fades in memory, but Miami’s banking on his 90.8 PFF debut grade to ignite Tua (PFF.com). The AFC East just flipped again.
Cooper’s no Hill in speed—4.42 vs. 4.21 40-dash—but his hands and route precision could steady Miami’s 8-9 ship (SI.com). With Waddle at WR2, this ex-Bills star might just rewrite the Dolphins’ playoff tale—or haunt Buffalo’s dreams (ESPN).
