LOS ANGELES — Receiver Cooper Kupp says the Los Angeles Rams try to commerce him after eight seasons with the membership, and he doesn’t just like the transfer.
The native of Yakima and Tremendous Bowl 56 MVP made the announcement on social media Tuesday, saying the Rams advised him they “can be in search of a commerce instantly and can be working with me and my household to search out the proper place to proceed competing for championships.”
The 2021 AP NFL Offensive Participant of the Yr primarily bade farewell to the town the place he has spent his whole profession.
“I don’t agree with the choice and at all times believed it was going to start and finish in LA,” Kupp wrote. “Nonetheless, if there’s one factor that I’ve realized over time: there are such a lot of issues which are out of your management, however it’s the way you reply to those issues that you’ll look again on and keep in mind.”
Kupp’s future with the Rams was an apparent query mark as a result of he’s signed for the following two seasons as a part of the three-year, $80.1 million contract extension he acquired after having one of many biggest seasons by a receiver in NFL historical past in 2021-22. He would have taken up almost $30 million in cap area subsequent season, however the Rams may save about two-thirds of that by releasing him.
The Rams took calls on Kupp’s availability in October after they began the season 1-4, however they elected to maintain him. Los Angeles’ entrance workplace just isn’t sentimental about its stars: Normal supervisor Les Snead traded or launched Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and Robert Woods in recent times earlier than their very own large contract extensions had even kicked in.
Kupp has been a prolific receiver each time wholesome throughout his eight seasons with the Rams, who drafted him within the third spherical out of Japanese Washington a number of months after hiring Sean McVay as their head coach.
Kupp has been a centerpiece of McVay’s offensive sport plans all through his profession, catching 634 passes for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns.
“I’ve taken a lot satisfaction in enjoying alongside my teammates for the LA neighborhood, so thanks for embracing my household and making this such a particular place for us,” Kupp wrote.
Kupp received the triple crown of receiving three seasons in the past by main the league in catches (145), yards receiving (1,947) and TD catches (16). Within the playoffs, he capped one other dominant stretch by profitable the Tremendous Bowl MVP award and scoring the eventual profitable landing late in Los Angeles’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
However Kupp’s manufacturing tailed off prior to now three seasons, and he had a tough end this season after he missed 4 early video games with an ankle harm. He struggled to get the ball down the stretch for the Rams, making simply 12 catches for 162 yards within the closing 5 video games of the common season throughout the least productive stretch of his profession.
He then had six catches for 90 yards and no TDs in two playoff video games for the Rams.
Puka Nacua has emerged as an elite NFL receiver prior to now two seasons underneath Kupp’s tutelage and management. Nacua will now be the unquestioned high goal for McVay — and for whoever is the Rams’ quarterback subsequent season.
“So I believed it was simply the NBA commerce season,” Nacua wrote on social media.
Matthew Stafford mentioned final month that he would take time to resolve whether or not to return for a seventeenth NFL season. The veteran has a robust friendship with each Kupp and Nacua.
Kupp can be 32 years outdated subsequent season. He had three consecutive seasons with greater than 90 catches main as much as his landmark 2021-22 marketing campaign, however he hasn’t made greater than 75 catches in a season since then.
