The Rams will have to part with Cooper Kupp, and others, to get better
The offseason is a process that starts with teams deciding which players have to stay, which then allows the front office and coaching staff to come to terms with those who didn’t make the cut. Or they get cut.
The first step of the L.A. Rams offseason will be cutting and trading players who are either not vital components of a successful 2025 season, or they have contracts that now outweigh their value too dramatically to keep. That means that 2024 was probably Cooper Kupp’s last season with the Rams.
Release Cooper Kupp with post-June 1 designation – $15m saved
As noted this week, Kupp is likely not tradeable anymore because no team will willingly pay him $20 million in cash for 2025 and also give up draft picks. Kupp’s best case scenario would be following the Adam Thielen plan.
After his age-32 season, the Vikings cut Thielen to save cap space and then he signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Panthers.
At almost the same season with eerily similar numbers to Thielen’s final season in Minnesota (716 yards, 6 TD vs 710 yards, 6 TD), Kupp should be able to get something like a two-year, $25 million contract as a free agent. There should be plenty of suitors and if Kupp is chasing a ring, he might choose a team like the Kansas City Chiefs — or maybe reunite with Kevin O’Connell on the Vikings — if the Rams don’t make him a competitive offer to come back after he’s released.
The reason the Rams want to do a post-June 1 release is that it would push some of their remaining cap commitments into 2026, when they are set to have a lot more cap room than they have in 2025.
With the uncertainty at quarterback, L.A. could use the extra cap room.
The Rams are projected for $38 million in cap room and a post-June 1 release of Kupp moves that number to $53 million.
Trade Jonah Jackson
Though Jackson is overpaid on the Rams ($9 million base salary in 2025, which becomes guaranteed if he’s not cut before March 15), he could still be a fair price to another team.
Per OvertheCap, the Rams would save $3.3 million by trading or releasing Jackson — not a huge sum — but it all depends on whether or not they see him as a potential competition for Beaux Limmer at center. Limmer was better in 2024, that doesn’t mean he’s going to be L.A.’s center forever.
PFF ranked Limmer as the worst pass blocking center in the NFL in 2024.
There is a dearth of quality guards on the market, so a team might be willing to take on Jackson’s $9 million, especially if the Rams take back an albatross contract of their own. That’s why trading Jackson may not be for cap purposes, but simply to get a change of scenery and recoup whatever they can get.
The Rams held onto Joe Noteboom for too longer after he was an extension bust. Will they do the same with Jackson?
Release Darious Williams – $3.8 million saved
Because there’s just no reason to keep him.
Release Derion Kendrick – $3.3 million saved
Same answer.
The Matthew Stafford question – Retire or Leave It As Is
The Rams could feel that if Stafford doesn’t want to retire, and he doesn’t demand a trade like he did in 2021, that there’s no reason to part ways this year. Releasing or trading Stafford doesn’t save enough cap room to mention, unless it’s post-June 1. Well, why really do that if you’ve already opened up this much cap space?
After the moves I just mentioned, the Rams have $60 million in projected cap space for 2025 and though they’re definitely left with a few needs, it’s nothing that can’t be addressed with $60 million. If they want more cap space, then they could restructure Kevin Dotson’s contract for another $7.6 million in 2025 cap space.
Les Snead says the team wants to extend Kyren Williams, which should open up a little bit ($1-$3 million) more.
Next, the Rams will have to decide how to fill these holes in free agency and the trade market…