Cooper Kupp apparently confirmed the Los Angeles Rams’ hand on Monday when the previous Tremendous Bowl MVP mentioned the workforce hoped to commerce him this offseason.
Orchestrating a deal for the 31-year-old, nonetheless, won’t come simply.
After successful the NFL’s receiving triple crown in a marketing campaign wherein he was named the league’s Offensive Participant of the Yr, Kupp has missed 18 regular-season video games within the final three seasons resulting from damage. Compounding the issues are the monetary elements, as Kupp is due a $7.5 million roster bonus and $12.5 million in wage in 2025. That payout would possibly show untenable for groups poking round on a participant who has not reached 850 receiving yards in a season since 2021, which means the Rams would possibly must both be prepared to foot the invoice for a portion of what Kupp is due or outright launch him.
Regardless, the receiver’s market ought to materialize within the coming weeks.
Listed here are six groups that could possibly be matches for Kupp, both in a possible commerce or as a free-agent touchdown spot if he is launched.
All issues Rams: Newest Los Angeles Rams information, schedule, roster, stats, damage updates and extra.
Houston Texans
It is simple to attract the connection right here after Nick Caley, who final yr served because the Rams’ passing recreation coordinator, was employed to be Houston’s offensive coordinator. Caley was solely with Los Angeles for the final two years, so he hasn’t labored with Kupp at his peak. However there’s little query that Houston needs to be evaluating choices for a trusted goal given Tank Dell’s unsure timeline for a return from his grotesque knee damage suffered in December and Stefon Diggs’ free-agent standing. Kupp may take over Diggs’ work as a short-to-intermediate goal whereas permitting Nico Collins to stay the point of interest of the offense, and his addition may assist C.J. Stroud higher navigate the safety issues that plagued the assault in 2024. The financials, nonetheless, could possibly be difficult, as Houston at present has simply $101,000 in cap house, in accordance with Over The Cap.
New England Patriots
With a league-high $120 million in cap house at their disposal, the Patriots needs to be lots energetic this offseason in reshaping their offense round Drake Maye. However would possibly New England have their sights set on different cross catchers? Tee Higgins appears to be like to be probably the most transformational determine obtainable for the aerial assault, and New England is properly positioned to win any bidding warfare it chooses to enter for the pending free agent. Nonetheless, Kupp could possibly be one a part of an overhaul of the receiving corps, and he may assist New England claw nearer to Robert Kraft’s said need of getting again to the playoffs.
Washington Commanders
One other workforce flush with cap house, the Commanders have greater than $78 million obtainable for 2025. That does not imply that Dan Quinn and Adam Peters will rush out to burn the pliability afforded to them by Jayden Daniels’ rookie deal, however Washington may be extra geared up than many different groups to tolerate some threat right here. A strong No. 2 receiver may elevate the assault on condition that no wideout got here inside half of Terry McLaurin’s 1,096 receiving yards on the season. Kupp would function a superb complement to McLaurin, who’s arguably the league’s greatest in contested catch situations and thrives as a downfield possibility. However the two-time Professional Bowler can be due a hefty extension, and Washington won’t need to reconfigure its receiver room round one other high-cost possibility.
Chicago Bears
They don’t seem to be precisely a transfer away from contending for the NFC North crown, so perhaps this transfer can be a tricky promote for basic supervisor Ryan Poles. However Chicago does have practically $63 million in cap house obtainable, rating sixth amongst all groups. And after the Keenan Allen acquisition backfired, the Bears may stand so as to add a security valve for Caleb Williams because the quarterback tries to grasp new coach Ben Johnson’s offense by studying to play extra on schedule.
Denver Broncos
This does not seem to be a pure Sean Payton transfer, because the coach may be extra inclined to fill a void for the Joker position of a operating again or tight finish who can create mismatches within the passing recreation with their versatility. However discovering a veteran playmaker in free company may show tough, and Denver has to think about all of its choices for higher supporting Bo Nix in Yr 2 of the quarterback’s tenure. Establishing extra consistency would possibly start with discovering any cross catchers who can often create separation within the intermediate space, and Kupp can step in to resolve that challenge.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin’s workforce would not have readability at quarterback but after the coach mentioned the workforce wanted to weigh all of its choices with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields each at present ticketed without spending a dime company. It doesn’t matter what the plan of assault behind heart, nonetheless, a receiving corps that too usually relied on unstable wideout George Pickens is due for a recalibration. Kupp may signify one among Pittsburgh’s higher pictures at implementing a extra sustainable offense in 2025, and his blocking ought to make him a quick favourite of each Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
The USA TODAY app will get you to the center of the information — quick.Obtain for award-winning protection, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and extra.
