A report indicating the Rams are making calls to teams on Cooper Kupp may have been overstating how interested the NFC West franchise is in moving its top Los Angeles 2.0-era wide receiver. Kupp’s name remains in trade rumors, but the Rams may have a price floor.
Tuesday’s report pointed to the Rams targeting a second-round pick to the point they would be willing to pay some of Kupp’s salary to secure such a return. Thursday, SI.com’s Albert Breer said (during a Rich Eisen Show appearance) teams are calling the Rams on Kupp. In order to move the former All-Pro and Super Bowl MVP, Breer adds the Rams want a return that outflanks what the Raiders received for Davante Adams.
The teams still hunting for WR help have undoubtedly noticed the Rams’ early-season struggles, leading to inquiries about Kupp. We heard before the Rams’ win over the Raiders that Kupp had drawn trade interest, but as the receiver prepares to return tonight along with Puka Nacua, his current team is probably not committed to selling just yet. The Rams travel to Seattle following their Vikings matchup; their next two results could determine how willing they are to sell.
It cost the Jets a conditional third-round pick to acquire Adams from the Raiders. Las Vegas could have upped that, in all likelihood, had a mandate not been in place for an acquiring team to pick up all of Adams’ prorated 2024 base salary. The Jets did so and agreed on terms that would send a second-rounder to the Raiders if certain conditions are met. Adams is unlikely to satisfy the conditions, as he would need to earn first- or second-team All-Pro acclaim (in a season that has already featured three missed games) or he would need to suit up for an AFC championship game.
If the Rams enter serious Kupp trade talks, they would probably need to pay a sizable portion of his base salary to net a second-rounder. Just less than $9MM remains on Kupp’s 2024 base salary. Though, he is due $5MM in 2025 guarantees, presenting another complication here. The Rams have Kupp signed through 2026 via the three-year, $80.1MM extension agreed to months after his triple-crown season concluded. As they could regroup and hope the 31-year-old target can stay healthy. If they are to move on now, Breer notes teams have been informed the price will need to be higher than Adams’.
While Adams has never matched Kupp’s dominance from 2021, the former Packers and Raiders standout has been far more consistent. Kupp has put together just two 1,000-yard seasons, with injuries consistently interfering. Kupp has an ACL tear (2018) on his medical sheet, and he underwent tightrope surgery to repair an injured ankle in 2022. Kupp saw a hamstring specialist due to a nagging issue that delayed his 2023 debut and has only played in two games due to an ankle malady this season. This health history, even with the Rams taking on plenty of base salary, will give teams pause on Kupp as a hired gun.
Responsible for the second-best receiving yardage season in NFL history, Kupp added 478 yards and six touchdowns in the 2021 playoffs. Only Larry Fitzgerald (2008) has bettered that yardage figure in a single postseason, with Kupp passing Hakeem Nicks‘ strong 2011 work. Kupp’s dominance that year has increased his standing in L.A., with Breer posits the optics of giving up Kupp for a third- or fourth-round return may factor into this Rams equation.
It will be interesting to see if the Rams drop their price or if this truly is a “take it or leave it” situation for a player who was part of Sean McVay‘s first draft class. The Chiefs discussed Kupp with the Rams before adding DeAndre Hopkins for a conditional fifth. The Rams have an extra week to determine their sales path, with this year’s deadline being moved to Nov. 5.