As the 2025 league year nears, the Rams are moving close to a deadline with Cooper Kupp. Although a bit more time remains until the standout wide receiver’s $7.5MM roster bonus is due, Kupp is on the verge of free agency.
The Rams have tried to trade Kupp but are close to releasing him. Barring an 11th-hour trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Kupp will be cut after the new league year begins. The Rams could make Kupp a post-June 1 release beginning at 3pm CT on March 12.
A parting of the ways has been expected for some time. The 31-year-old acknowledged back in January that he may have already played his last snap for the Rams, and shortly thereafter, it was reported that Los Angeles was actively shopping the 2021 Triple Crown winner. When speaking about the matter last week, GM Les Snead indicated his club could retain Kupp, though he noted that was the least likely option.
Shortly after those comments were made, Snead pulled the trigger on a two-year, $46MM contract for Davante Adams, effectively confirming Kupp’s departure. As the team moves forward with Puka Nacua, Adams, and the recently-resigned Tutu Atwell at the top of its WR depth chart, Kupp will be seeking a change of scenery. By cutting him prior to March 17, the Rams will avoid paying the above-referenced roster bonus, and using the post-June 1 designation will allow LA to save $15MM in cap space (albeit with a corresponding dead cap charge of roughly the same amount, as $5MM of the bonus is guaranteed in full).
The fact that a release loomed as the probable outcome certainly put a damper on Kupp’s trade market, and his recent injury woes and general downturn in production did not help (he has seen his yards per game average drop from 90.2 to 61.4 to 59.2 since the start of the 2022 season while playing in 33 of a possible 51 regular season games over the past three years). Still, a healthy Kupp would be a valuable addition to any number of clubs in need of a pass-catcher, and he should not linger on the open market for too long.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
All time great ram he was one of those players that always killed the Seahawks (and Johnny hekker)
I bet he goes to Pittsburgh and they trade away Pickens to Dallas
I was thinking of this same possibility of trading Pickens and signing Cupp. Pickens and Metcalf are essentially the same receiver.
I could see Pickens ending up with the Chargers or Patriots
Get all 3
Steelers Super Team
Hahahahahaha. Super Team. Cupp is done. I really hope the Pats don’t waste money and a roster spot on him.
Why would kupp want to go to Pittsburgh to be the #2 for qb to be named later?
Come on over to San Francisco and torch them twice a year. Bang Bang!
9ers aren’t adding anything in free agency except scraps. No cap space and need to pay Purdy
Pats better grab him
It’s either him or Amari Cooper left for a halfway decent veteran signing. I don’t want any part of Diggs.
He’s washed. I hope the Pats don’t waste money and a roster spot on him. He won’t help them
KOC and KUPP reunion!!
Not likely based on on the Vikes needs
His contract will be low and he would fit nicely with JJ and Addison.
Do the Bears still have the cap space?
I could see Seattle. He’s from Washington and played his college football there.
Seahawks are going to a youth movement based on their roster clear-out.
Seattle really isnt going to a youth movement. They just went younger and cheaper at QB. DK requested a trade and Locket was cut due to making way too much money for a 3rd WR. They have said to be looking for veteran WR and Kupp probably won’t cost too much as Rams owe him a bunch.
They were never going to trade that contract. Lots of options if he gets released. Chargers? Chicago? Philly as a slot guy? Vegas? Buffalo?
He would be a good fit in Buffalo imo
he’s going to the chiefs
They have like 28 cents in cap space
Seahawks GM Schnieder needs to sign him up. Kupp still has a lot of gas in his tank. It’s time for Kupp to come back home and build a new legacy.
Vikings grab him as soon as he’s released.
Bears make sense