Raiders sign WR Amari Cooper and acquire QB Kenny Pickett

Amari Cooper (YouTube)

The Las Vegas Raiders were very busy on Monday. First, they acquired quarterback Kenny Pickett of Oakhurst, New Jersey in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Then they signed wide receiver Amari Cooper of Miami, Florida to a one-year contract.

The fact that the Browns traded Pickett is zero surprise. That is because the Browns had five notable quarterbacks on their roster and had already named Joe Flacco as their starter. In Las Vegas, Pickett will backup Geno Smith.

Pickett never played for the Browns. He was traded to Cleveland from Philadelphia on March 10 for quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In the trade between the Browns and Raiders on Monday, Pickett was traded for a fifth round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

With Philadelphia last season, Pickett was the backup to Jalen Hurts. However, he still won a Super Bowl as the Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. Last season, Pickett completed 25 of 42 passes for 291 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also had nine rushes for 15 rushing yards and one touchdown. Pickett’s rushing touchdown was for one yard and came in a 41-7 Eagles win over the Dallas Cowboys on December 29.

Cooper is returning to the Raiders after playing there from 2015 to 2018. Since then he has also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills. The reason why the free agent signing took place is because Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has requested a trade. This past season in Buffalo and Cleveland, Cooper had 44 catches for 547 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The five-time Pro Bowler had 225 catches and 3183 receiving yards and 19 touchdown catches in 52 games with the Oakland Raiders.