Drew Brees knows what it’s like to be dumped by the team that drafted you, which is something Cooper Kupp will most likely experience this offseason. The Los Angeles Rams have informed Kupp that they intend to trade him, effectively moving on from the wide receiver after eight seasons.
Kupp’s announcement shocked a lot of people when he shared the news on social media but Brees isn’t surprised by the Rams’ decision. Having played 20 years in the NFL, he’s seen it all, so not much surprises him anymore.
He thinks a fresh start could be good for both parties and gets why the Rams are moving on from the former All-Pro receiver.
“I don’t think anything surprises me anymore,” Brees told DJ Siddiqi of The Sports Daily. “Everybody has their reasons, and at times, when it comes to guys being in a place for a long period of time, it’s just time for something different. I think that goes for both sides. Who knows what the conversations were behind closed doors. Cooper Kupp has been a phenomenal player for a really long time and been a huge contributor to the Ram. At the same time at some point that has to end, and regardless of whose decision it is or if it’s mutual, teams and players come together and it’s like, ‘Hey, it’s time for a fresh start elsewhere. It’s time for us to move on.’”
A big reason for this impending split is Kupp’s contract. He has a cap hit of $29.78 million in 2025 and $27.33 million in 2026, so he’s taking up a significant portion of the Rams’ cap. Not to mention, he’s also played just 33 games in the last three seasons, missing time each year due to injuries.
Brees thinks the Rams probably see an aging and oft-injured player who’s become quite expensive and feel they can find a replacement for significantly less money in the draft.
”The Rams I think have proven that they can draft well and they can identify diamonds in the rough.” Brees said. “Cooper Kupp was not a highly recruited guy. Puka Nacua was not — he was a mid-round guy. Kyren Williams, mid-round guy. All of a sudden you’ve drafted all these Pro Bowl, All-Pro guys in the mid-round. In their mind, they’re thinking, ‘Man, we’ll go out and find some other guys that we can grow, we can develop, put with Matthew Stafford, put in this offense, and we’ll make them great players.’ “I’m sure that’s the way they look at it.”