Cooper Kupp Compares Jaxon Smith-Njigba To Former Rams Teammate Puka Nacua

The Los Angeles Rams made the difficult decision to move on from Cooper Kupp this offseason, who quickly found a new home with the Seattle Seahawks.

Kupp spent seven seasons with the Rams and established himself as one of the top wide receivers in football. He most notably won the receiving triple crown during the team’s Super Bowl-winning season in 2021.

Kupp was limited by injuries in his final few seasons with the Rams, which coincided with the emergence of Puka Nacua. When healthy, Kupp and Nacua formed one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL.

During an appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” Kupp compared new Seahawks teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Nacua, citing their toughness and desire to win:

“I think the first thing that struck me was he plays a lot stronger – and is a lot stronger – than people know about Jaxon. There’s a play strength that comes along with that being able to be on the field. His decisiveness and belief in himself in what he can do and then being able to go out there and just make it happen. Incredibly competitive and that’s one of those things as a receiver, you get into some positions where, ‘Hey, I’m in press or I’ve got a plan, boom, I hit my first move, hit my counter and it’s still not there.’ But the competitiveness to say, ‘I just know I’m not going to lose. I’m going to find a way to win. Jaxon has that. It’s similar to what Puka was like coming in, as well. The competitiveness and the play strength are both very similar.”

Nacua previously praised Kupp and said he wouldn’t be the player he is today without all of his help. The 24-year-old is hoping to follow in the veteran’s footsteps and take on more of a leadership role with the Rams this season.

As for Kupp, he will now look to share some of his wisdom with Smith-Njigba and the other Seahawks wide receivers as a way to help them elevate their game.

Cooper Kupp ‘looking forward’ to playing Rams

Cooper Kupp remaining in the NFC West means the Rams will have to face their former franchise icon twice a season. “Yeah, I am. I am looking forward to it,” Kupp said of playing the Rams earlier this offseason.

“That didn’t play into the decision to come here, but it was a nice little thing on the side to be able to go against those guys. So much respect for the coaching staff, the way that they handle things down there, the players down there.

“I am excited about it, though It’s going to be a really cool thing. When that time comes, it’ll just be football at that point. But I am looking forward to it.”