10:00pm: McVay confirmed on Friday (via Rodrigue) he and the Rams expect Kupp to remain in place past the deadline. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero added during a Rich Eisen Show appearance that while talks have taken place regarding a trade, no such conversations have reached the level where a deal has appeared imminent (video link). Especially with Los Angeles back in the thick of the NFC West race, it would take a notable turn of events for Kupp to find himself on the move.
9:17am: Since reports of a potential Cooper Kupp trade began surfacing, the Rams have won two games and are now one game out of the NFC West lead. As such, they are less likely to be sellers.
The team saw Kupp and Puka Nacua‘s return to action make a considerable difference against the Vikings on Thursday night. The duo combined for 12 receptions, 157 yards and a touchdown in Week 8. Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes, providing a ray of hope during an injury-plagued Los Angeles season.
Days after a report suggested the Rams were calling teams on Kupp, Sean McVay did not sound too eager to break up this WR duo. The eighth-year Rams HC said postgame he expects Kupp to stay with the team, though McVay did confirm (via The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue) teams have called. Kupp, 31, remains signed through the 2026 season — on the three-year, $80.1MM deal he signed months after his Super Bowl LVI MVP effort — and has an injury history that would stand to give teams pause about taking on that contract.
Kupp is also due a $5MM guarantee in 2025. While the Rams have been willing to take on some of the former All-Pro’s remaining 2024 salary — roughly $8MM — an acquiring team would be responsible for that $5MM payment next year. Kupp is tied to base salaries of $12.5MM and $14.85MM — the latter amount nonguaranteed — in 2025 and ’26. The two future salaries would be less of a deterrent than Kupp’s 2024 money and the fact he has missed 17 games since Super Bowl LVI.
The Rams have also informed teams they would want a trade haul that surpasses where the Jets went for Davante Adams. New York agreed to take on all of Adams’ remaining 2024 salary and sent Las Vegas a conditional third-round pick. The Chiefs discussed Kupp with the Rams before agreeing to acquire DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans. Given the Rams’ form with Kupp and Nacua back in the fold, trading the older member of the tandem for a modest return would be a tough sell. Though, keeping Kupp will also bring risk due to his struggles staying healthy.
Thursday’s win also came with the Rams missing two offensive line starters. They will almost certainly not pull the trigger on a seller’s trade until after their Week 9 Seahawks matchup, as the prospect looms of Steve Avila and free agency addition Jonah Jackson returning. Both are eligible to be activated from IR.