In their search for a Cooper Kupp trade partner, the Rams are willing to eat some of the money remaining on the star wide receiver’s contract, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Kupp is set to earn $20MM in 2025, made up of $12.5MM in base salary and a $7.5MM 90-man roster bonus due on March 17, per OverTheCap. $5MM of that roster bonus became fully guaranteed in 2024.
A pre-June 1 trade would already require the Rams to absorb the remaining prorations of Kupp’s signing bonus as a $17.26MM dead cap hit in 2025. That would allow them to pursue other needs in free agency with additional capital in this year’s draft.
Waiting until after June 1 would allow the Rams to push $7.48MM of dead money to 2026, but they would then also be responsible for Kupp’s 2025 roster bonus, essentially making the deferment a wash. The delay would also cost them 2025 draft capital in addition to the opportunity to sign top free agents in March.
Accordingly, the Rams would rather get a trade done before the new league year starts, explaining their willingness to absorb even more of Kupp’s contract. In the past, the Rams have paid a roster bonus early as a way of eating money to facilitate a trade, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That would help firm up a market for Kupp, who is expected to have suitors due to his pedigree as a tough, savvy, and versatile playmaker. If the Rams can alleviate the financial burden of acquiring the 31-year-old, his age and recent injuries would be his only remaining concerns. Despite those concerns, Kupp is expected to have suitors, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required).
Kupp’s skillset would make him a fit in almost any NFL offense, but certain teams will make more sense than others. Among them, according to Fowler, are the Steelers, the Commanders, and the Patriots. Pittsburgh were interested at the 2024 trade deadline, while Washington and New England both have plenty of cap space and young passers that would benefit from an experienced, quarterback-friendly receiver like Kupp. The Lions also have enough cap room to absorb his contract as well as Kupp’s former teammate, Jared Goff, under center.
You’re going to love Foxborough, Cooper
Nah, we are good. He is on a major downside and we got youth. Thanks but no thanks.
Agreed. I love watching him play, but the Pats need up-and-comers, not former stars trending downward.
Kupp was very good last year when healthy. There was no decline. He was on pace for 110/1200/11 in games he played in. The Rams inexplicably stopped throwing him the ball in week 15. He had 9 targets the last 3 weeks but had 8 in week 14 alone.
He will still be productive for another year or 2. Injuries are a legit concern. But the on field production is still excellent.
Anyone that gets him for a 5th will be very happy with it. He would He a fantastic addition for Maye next year. Not every signing or acquisition has to be around for 10 years. In the short term, he could be extremely productive for the team.
I’d prefer Maye grow with WRs who will still be in the league when the Pats are contenders.
Given the Patriots record drafting WRs the last several years Kupp has a great shot ar being that guy!
Eat money? What type of diet is that!!
*budum tsss*
Thank you! I’m hear all night
You’re spelling def.
*budum tsss*
Commanders pick up the phone. Also Steelers and Falcons
Give us Kupp AND Stafford and maybe.
You gotta be down bad to trade for Cooper Kupp and act like you did something .. nobody got older faster (injuries helped) and often injured
I get Kupp is still owed money on a contract and has had some injuries but what happened that the Rams all of a sudden are fast tracking a trade. Roster bonus due in March but a dead money cap hit so what other reason for this ?
It would appear that Les Snead has a plan that includes making the roster younger and he wants to get out in front of things before the draft. That’s not a bad strategy at all. I don’t like undecisive GMs that do a lot of hand wringing and head scratching.
Snead does this. He did with Ramsay, and attempted to do it with Stafford. Trading Kupp for picks doesn’t sound bad, but the market is going to be so unaggressive right now that whatever pick the Rams get might not be worth the trouble.
The reason can’t be to save on salary, since they’ll take on some of it. Kupp’s slowed down considerably, but only when both he and Nacua were on the field did L.A. look like a playoff offense. Granted, the division wasn’t great this year, and I definitely don’t see Kupp as a foundational piece at this point, but you’d figure that a trade next year after an injury to another contender might net more in a trade that won’t save much money in the above described arrangement.
I guess his best ability is his availability at this point and if he was able to stay on the field then his contract would actually be a bargain so the Rams must feel that he isn’t worth the money for a half season of production.
They want to beat the March 17 deadline I guess
Yes, Detroit has cap space, but what are they going to use him for as they have St. Brown, Williams at WR, along with a TE and 2 backs who catch passes? Some of these reads are whacked.
Agreed, Kupp to the lions is not even a move we need to make..
Why do the Rams want to get rid of Kupp so strongly that they’re willing to eat part of his salary? I’ve never heard about him doing anything out of line.
the answer to all your questions is MONEY.
It’s good business. When you have a downward trending player, you get what you can for him. And if you have the money, you throw in money to get a better haul.
Hes going to green bay
His Madden 25 rating is 90:
NYJ on Line 1
I’m not seeing the benefit but is IS the Jets soooo
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Rams will eat $5 million when Kupp is cut.