After watching Justin Herbert get crushed without being able to throw to anyone, LA Chargers fans are wanting two things heading into the bye week: more help on the offensive line and more weapons in the passing game.

Offensive line support will come when Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are healthy. The interior offensive line could use some work, but the Chargers won’t find a decent upgrade as the season progresses. Teams don’t trade quality offensive players, even if the team isn’t a contender.

Los Angeles will also get in-house wide receiver help, 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 advancing to the playoffs this season, LA needs to improve this group.

It looks like the Chargers (and the rest of the NFL) have a new potential trade target to do just that. After a 1-3 start with no reprieve in sight, the Cleveland Browns may be preparing to trade Amari Cooper.

Amari Cooper is by no means at his best and will not be a Tyreek Hill-level game-changer coming to Los Angeles and immediately taking over at the top of the defense. However, he would add a veteran presence to an inexperienced wide receiver room that desperately needs it.

While Herbert begins to build a relationship with Ladd McConkey and trusts Quentin Johnston more, he still doesn’t have the reliable veteran contact he’s had throughout his career. Cooper may not be at his best, but he 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 reached 1,250 yards on 72 catches. He would immediately establish himself as the Chargers’ best wide receiver.

There are now several variables to consider when deciding what price makes sense for Cooper. Cooper is playing on an expiring contract and would likely be a midseason rental for the Chargers. Unless the team could re-sign him at a discount, it’s unlikely the Chargers would pay Cooper after this season after trading Keenan Allen to cut costs.

For this to make sense, the Chargers would also need to get Cooper’s buy-in. If he just wants to be traded to a team that works out a new contract, that won’t work. However, because he is a star quarterback and has a lot of potential, Cooper might welcome a move to the Chargers as it would allow him to maximize his value as a free agent.

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 the Chargers expecting multiple compensatory picks 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 rich for the Chargers, but isn’t a total dealbreaker. There could be a situation where a conditional fourth becomes a third depending on how much Cooper produces. If that’s the case, it’s easier to digest.

Either way, the Chargers proved they still want to win as many games as possible this season by playing Herbert because of an ankle injury. With the team serious about advancing to the playoffs, adding reinforcements makes sense.