It’s clear the Los Angeles Rams plan to trade Cooper Kupp this offseason, parting ways with the wide receiver after eight seasons. They’ve informed Kupp of their plans, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to find a team to take him.
With his bloated contract and a $7.5 million roster bonus due in March, finding a trade partner is easier said than done. One way for the Rams to facilitate a deal could be to pay some of Kupp’s remaining contract.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Rams are “at least willing to eat some of the money, potentially paying down the $7.5 million signing bonus.” That could be a necessary move for Los Angeles in order to entice a team to take on Kupp’s contract.
“My understanding is the Rams are at least willing to eat some of the money, potentially paying down the $7.5 million signing bonus which, a lot of that is fully guaranteed for Kupp, maybe easing the burden on an acquiring team, maybe making a trade a little easier,” Rapoport said.
From Super Bowl Live in New Orleans: Discussing the futures of Cooper Kupp and Myles Garrett, plus #Chiefs coach Andy Reid says he’s not going anywhere. pic.twitter.com/jzRlfofbCp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 4, 2025
If the Rams trade Kupp before his roster bonus is due in March, the trading team would be responsible for that, which would drive his total cost in 2025 to $20 million instead of just $12.5 million. If the Rams wait until after that bonus is paid, they will be responsible for it, thus lessening the cost for the trading team to acquire him.
It’s possible the Rams and another team can agree to a deal before that bonus is due, with the Rams potentially paying some of it in order to facilitate a trade. It wouldn’t be preferred for Los Angeles, but it might be necessary in order to avoid cutting Kupp outright and only saving $5 million overall.