Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is definitively on the trade block. The source? Cooper Kupp himself. The Rams have informed the wideout that they’re “seeking a trade immediately,” Kupp announced tonight.
“I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championship,” Kupp wrote on X. “I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA.
“Still, if there’s one thing that I have learned over the years: there are so many things that are out of your control, but it is how you respond to these things that you will look back on and remember.
“I have taken so much pride in playing alongside my teammates for the LA community, so thank you for embracing my family and making this such a special place for us.”
While it’s a bit jarring that the Rams are looking to move on from a franchise icon, it’s not completely unfounded. The receiver has clearly been leaped by Puka Nacua on the depth chart, and considering Kupp’s age and contract, there was some belief that he could be playing elsewhere in 2025. Kupp himself acknowledged this after the 2024 campaign when he admitted that he may have played his final game in a Rams uniform.
This also isn’t the first time Kupp has been on the trade block. The organization confirmed that they received calls on Kupp leading up to the trade deadline, and a separate report suggested it was actually the Rams front office that was looking to sell. The team ended up hanging on to the WR for the stretch run when they couldn’t find a squad willing to meet their asking price, which was reportedly compensation that exceeded what the Raiders received for Davante Adams (a conditional third-round pick).
A former third-round pick, Kupp has spent his entire career with the Rams organization. His 2021 campaign is still one of the most prolific seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history. Kupp finished that season with 1,965 yards from scrimmage, the most by a wide receiver in a single season. For his efforts, Kupp earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, and he followed that up with a postseason where he hauled in a record 33 receptions in four games and earned Super Bowl MVP.
Since then, Kupp hasn’t been able to put together a full season, as he’s missed 18 regular season games over the past three years. After finishing with 90.2 yards per game in 2022, Kupp has averaged only 60.3 yards per game between 2023 and 2024 while taking a backseat to Nacua. Kupp’s 2024 campaign was one of the least-productive seasons of his career, as he finished with 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games.
Still, considering his resume, Kupp should still be relatively attractive to WR-needy teams. Plus, he doesn’t completely break the bank. While his $29.78MM cap number in 2025 could be untenable, he’s only due $20MM total next season (via a $7.5MM roster bonus due in March and a $12.5MM base salary). A trade suitor would also be on the hook for his $19.85MM in salary commitments for the 2026 season. Only $5MM of his base salary is guaranteed for next season, so if the Rams are unable to find a trade partner over the next month, there’s a chance they just cut the veteran before the roster bonus is triggered.
Still, it’s unlikely it gets that far, as interested teams could always renegotiate with their trade acquisition. When Kupp was on the block earlier this season, the Chiefs, Bills and Steelers were mentioned as teams that discussed a trade with the Rams. Each of those teams ended up pivoting elsewhere, with Kansas City (DeAndre Hopkins), Buffalo (Amari Cooper), and Pittsburgh (Mike Williams) all making moves to shore up their WR corps. Still, there’s a chance any of those squads come crawling back, and new suitors could surely emerge as the offseason plays out.
Working in the Rams’ favor is a relatively uninspiring free agent market at the position. Tee Higgins will be the most coveted name, but the rest of the group consists of veterans coming off injuries (like Chris Godwin and Stefon Diggs) and veterans who underwhelmed in new spots (like Hopkins and Cooper). If a team is looking to make a big-name splash at the position, Kupp would surely check that box.