Early in training camp, when wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was unhappy and given permission by the 49ers to seek a trade because of a contract dispute, Amari Cooper surfaced as a possible trade chip going from the Browns to the Niners for Aiyuk. “Wouldn’t mind at all,” Cooper posted on his Instagram account Aug. 10. Aiyuk and the 49ers worked out their differences to the tune of a four-year, $120 million extension. Cooper remained in Cleveland, but not anymore. The Browns traded Cooper on Oct. 15, but he isn’t heading west to San Francisco. Instead he was traded east to the Bills, along with a sixth-round pick in 2025, for a third-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-round pick in 2026. Cooper leaves Cleveland as the Browns’ leader in catches (24), receiving yards (250) and offensive touchdowns (two). Safety Rodney McLeod also has two touchdowns — one on a 25-yard fumble return in the 20-16 loss to the Raiders on Sept. 29 and one on a 50-yard return of a blocked field goal in the 20-16 loss to the Eagles on Oct. 13. “We appreciate Amari’s hard work, professionalism and on-field contributions throughout his two plus seasons with us,” General Manager Andrew Berry said in a statement. “He created many memorable moments with us and was an integral part of our 2023 playoff team. We wish him the best in Buffalo as he continues his NFL career.” The trade vaults Jerry Jeudy (20 catches, 248 yards, one touchdown) into the undisputed role of No. 1 receiver on the Browns’ roster. It should also open more opportunities for Elijah Moore (16-95-0) and Cedric Tillman (3-9-0). Cooper, 30, clearly was not enjoying himself this season. He is in the final year of his contract. He wanted an extension beyond 2024, but the Browns did not give him one. He skipped the voluntary OTAs in the spring and did not participate in the mandatory June minicamp. A truce was arranged when the Browns added $5 million in incentives to his 2024 contract without extending it. Cooper reported to training camp on time, but he was still unhappy. He leads the NFL with nine dropped passes. This is the second time in his career Cooper was traded in midseason. Cooper, selected by the Raiders with the fourth overall pick in 2015, was traded from Oakland to the Cowboys in 2018 for a first-round pick. The Browns in March 2022 traded a fifth-round and a sixth-round pick to the Cowboys for Cooper and a sixth-round pick. Cooper caught 78 passes for 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns with the Browns in 2022. He caught 72 passes for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns last season. He is the only receiver in Browns’ franchise history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Getting a third-round pick for a player that is two years older than he was when all he cost was a fifth-round pick works out to be a good investment by Berry. The Bills might have given the Browns too much for Cooper in the eyes of some, but Buffalo felt a need to upgrade its receiving corps to counteract the Jets acquiring wide receiver Davante Adams from the Raiders earlier in the day Oct. 15 for a conditional third-round pick.