The Rams have been waiting on the returns of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, playing most of the season without Matthew Stafford‘s top weapons. Kupp is expected back in Week 8, but trade rumors surrounding the former first-team All-Pro are gaining steam.
Ahead of the Rams’ Thursday matchup with the Vikings, they have received trade inquiries. It was not known if Los Angeles was prepared to entertain offers for Kupp, but it turns out this could be a live market. The Rams are now calling teams on the former Super Bowl MVP, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, Dianna Russini and Mike Silver report. L.A. has called multiple teams on Kupp.
Kupp is tied to a lofty three-year, $80.1MM extension — one agreed to during an offseason in which the Rams also paid Stafford and Aaron Donald — but The Athletic reports the team is willing to pay some of Kupp’s remaining salary, as the goal in a potential swap will be a second-round pick. Kupp’s contract runs through 2026. The Rams owe Kupp $5MM guaranteed in 2025, though his ’25 base is only $12.5MM. It would cost the Rams more than $25MM in dead money to move on, but the bulk of that sum would be absorbed in 2025.
This would be a seismic move from a Rams team that has generally been on the buyer’s side of in-season trades during Sean McVay‘s tenure. It would also leave Stafford in limbo, given the close connection he has formed with Kupp and the team having lost Donald to retirement this offseason.
Just less than $9MM remains on Kupp’s 2024 base salary. Kupp has not lived up to his third Rams contract, going down with injuries in each of the past three years. That would stand to diminish his trade value, but the Rams should have a market if they are truly willing to part with the 31-year-old WR talent.
Three years ago, the Rams sent the Broncos second- and third-round picks for Von Miller, who was rehabbing a minor injury at the time, and saw him join Donald, Stafford, Kupp and Co. to help produce a Super Bowl title. Denver paid almost all of Miller’s remaining 2021 salary to boost trade compensation. Now, the Rams — despite having beaten the Raiders en route to a 2-4 mark achieved largely without Kupp and Nacua — appear prepared to move into a seller’s position.
That year, Stafford and Kupp formed an immediate connection that powered one of the greatest season by a wide receiver in NFL history. Kupp completed the rare triple-crown effort by leading the league with 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdown catches. Kupp continued his brilliance in the playoffs, adding 33 more catches, 478 yards and six touchdowns — including the Super Bowl LVI game-winner — to the Rams’ championship effort. Kupp’s reliability saved a team that had lost WR2 Odell Beckham Jr. in the first half, with the in-season addition going down weeks after Robert Woods was lost for the season.
Despite the Rams having paid Kupp and Woods in 2020, another deal for the ascending slot target commenced. Kupp, however, has missed 18 games since signing that extension. Ankle trouble slowed him in 2022, ending a season that also saw Stafford and Donald go down during a woeful Super Bowl title defense. Kupp began last season late due to nagging hamstring issues but did return to play 12 games alongside Nacua. With more ankle trouble plaguing Kupp this year, the Rams look to be gauging the market.
This marks a change from last season, when the Rams received calls on Kupp, Stafford and Donald but did not shop any of the cornerstones. Donald retired at season’s end, and Stafford has been asked to operate his age-36 campaign without both his top receivers and tight end Tyler Higbee. Kupp stepped up for an injured Nacua in Week 1, totaling 14 catches for 110 yards in a loss to the Lions. He went down in Week 2, being part of an injury brigade that has limited the Rams significantly on offense. The Rams, however, have kept Kupp on their active roster — unlike Nacua, who has been on IR since mid-September.
Neither Davante Adams nor Amari Cooper has produced a season like the one Kupp delivered in 2021, but both the recently traded standouts have been healthier. Even if the Rams pay down most of Kupp’s remaining salary, landing a second-rounder for Kupp figures to be difficult due to his recent maladies. Kupp also has an ACL tear on his medical sheet, having gone down midway through the Rams’ first McVay-era Super Bowl season. The former third-round pick posted his first 1,000-yard slate a year later, leading to the Rams’ first extension for the Division I-FCS product.
It will be interesting to see if the Rams find a team that is willing to part with Day 2 compensation for Kupp. The Steelers have been shopping for a wideout for months, while the Saints also missed out on Adams. Clubs may not be too eager to deal with the Chiefs, given their threepeat pursuit, but Kansas City lost JuJu Smith-Schuster with a short-term injury and has been in the market since seeing Rashee Rice follow Marquise Brown in sustaining a season-ending injury. That said, NFC teams stand to be less concerned about arming the Chiefs compared to AFC franchises. It would surprise if the two-time reigning champs did not call (or were not contacted) on Kupp.
Packers
Lions
Commanders
Chiefs
Chargers
Why would Detroit need Kupp? The offense is already deadly, if anything they need a pass rusher and possibly another secondary defender. Roster is loaded with playmakers even with an injured Hutch.
I didn’t say need. Him and Goff already have chemistry, I think it’d be fun
Fair enough, I agree it would be fun watching Kupp/Brown/WIlliams/La Porta/Gibbs/Raymond on offense. Any defense rest of the year would probably stay up all night trying to figure out how to stop them.
I believe Pittsburgh should call for Kupp as well, they need another WR besides Pickens and nearly acquired Aiyuk. This would be a perfect scenario to acquire him when they’re 5-2.
Ya Det’s Offense would be unreal. I feel, especially at Kupps age, a QB with precise accuracy and high intelligence would fit best. Like Goff, Mahomes, Jayden, and Herbert. I also think he could really take GB over the top and Lafluer and Mcvays offenses are similar. Russ or Fields just don’t seem like a fit with Kupp imho.
Steelers front office doesn’t have the balls to go get a guy like Kupp. They rather hold onto draft picks, not spend a dime more than they have to on the offense, and roll into another .500 season.
Bucs seem kinda obvious
That would stink but Puka is going to be the next Kupp. I just don’t want to see the usual Rams move where they would get a mediocre pick swap like with Ernest Jones
No guarantee that Puka is going to be anything other than Puka…..he may have already peaked and the Rams may have already gotten his best….he might be back, but it’s a gamble saying he’s the future…..
Packers have a deep and versatile group if receivers and they’re cheap. They are not interested.
Lions offense is clicking and doesn’t need another playmaker….they gotta get pass rush help….they’re not interested. Commanders just lost Daniels for several weeks so the timing isn’t right and they should be more concerned with fortifying the D at this point.
The Chargers just spent all off season restructuring their offense and getting rid of expensive WRs…they are not in the mix.
I’ll give ya the Chiefs though Sam. Otherwise you are out to lunch.
The Bucs offense has Evans, Godwin and Otton and White as pass catchers and have way bigger needs.
Did you not watch the game last night? Godwin you could hear saying there goes my career and Evans is out with a hamstring. Season over if they don’t make a move
Bucs have been hit hard by injuries…maybe they would be interested in Kupp after all. Although why would they want to bring in an old injury riddled guy is beyond me. But they might.
Only if the Rams were willing to pay down that ridiculous contract to make this potentially acceptable to the Bucs….
TB
I’m giving it a 3% chance he’s traded. One the contract is massive. Two the Rams are one of those delusional teams who think they’re going to compete every year even though they go under .500 the year prior.
Perfect fit for the Steelers
Conditional 2nd based on games played. If not it will then be a 3rd
Logical Chiefs move, especially if Rams p/u some of the contract, and I believe the Chiefs are working on a restructure or two right now so they can make a move, D’Hop and Kirk are also believed to be targets