With the Los Angeles Rams season heading towards the pit of despair, many have speculated about the availability of star wideout Cooper Kupp. The 31-year-old receiver has been hot and cold to start this season, and with the NFL trade deadline approaching on Nov. 5, the rumors are starting to get a little bit louder.
The Rams have called multiple teams about trading former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp sources tell @mikesilver, @jourdanrodrigue, and me.
The Rams have indicated a willingness to take on some of the ‘24 salary and are seeking a 2nd round pick.— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 22, 2024
With Los Angeles willing to take on some of Kupp’s salary and only asking for a second round pick in return, it feels like the end of Kupp’s tenure in LA is arriving soon. Kupp is an interesting receiver, with a majority of his success coming in the slot and off of motion and free releases. He might not be a fit for everyone, but with as many Shanahan and McVay offenses are out there, it’s definitely worth a shot. With that being said, which teams can and should trade for him? We ranked the top 7 destinations, starting with some real contenders.
1 . Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Monday night was the game from hell for the Bucs offense. Not only did they lose to the Baltimore Ravens in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score might indicate, they lost receiver Chris Godwin to a dislocated ankle. In addition, other top receiver Mike Evans went out early with a hamstring injury that With Godwin out for the season and not knowing too much about Evans’ status, the Bucs need to make a big swing in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Adding Kupp into this offense would be similar to what Godwin gave Tampa Bay. Kupp is incredible in the short to mid-range areas of the field, and assuming Mike Evans comes back this season, he works in this offense in the same way that he did in Los Angeles. Remember, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen was on the Rams staff from 2018-2020, beginning one year after Kupp was drafted. The familiarity with the scheme and overall need make this the top destination.
2. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens need to keep their foot on the gas pedal. Already boasting one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL, adding Kupp to this roster would help make them even more successful from down to down. With WR Zay Flowers bringing the juice to the offense and Rashod Bateman being the outside receiver for QB Lamar Jackson to hit, another receiver to take the snaps of Nelson Agholor in the slot would be super nice to have. Enter Kupp, who can feast on all the attention given to the Ravens’ run game and play iso ball against linebackers and safeties.
The only problem with this destination is how much 12 and 21 personnel the Ravens’ play. With already limited snaps given to receivers, maybe Kupp takes the place of Bateman in those bigger personnel groupings. But that’s a good problem to have when you’re a team like Baltimore in need of one more push to get to the Super Bowl.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs desperately need another receiver. With Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice both out for the season and Juju Smith-Schuster still nursing a hamstring injury, QB Patrick Mahomes is throwing passes to Justin Watson and Skyy Moore. Kupp would bring another added element to the Chiefs’ death by crossing route offense and can add more success in the middle of the field areas. If the Rams truly want to take on most of Kupp’s salary, the Chiefs should be one of the first teams banging down the door in LA for Kupp’s services—it might help them reach another Super Bowl.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
I mean…this one is simple: have you SEEN who QB Justin Herbert is throwing to? The various assortments of Ladd McConkey, Simi Fehoko and Quentin Johnston aren’t good enough for the Chargers to consistently win football games. In an AFC where the wild card spots are wide open, the Chargers have the QB and the defensive playcalling to seriously make a run; they need the playmakers to take a step up for it to happen. Herbert and WR Keenan Allen had an incredible rapport when Allen was in LA, and Kupp shares a similar skillset. With Kupp coming in, everyone else on the roster would move into more complimentary roles fitting of their talents at this stage of their careers.
Plus, Kupp wouldn’t even have to change lockers, or home addresses!
5. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas’ season is barely hanging on by a thread, and the offense hasn’t been nearly as good as it once was. The biggest reason is the lack of a true threat outside of CeeDee Lamb at receiver. The Cowboys have seen the sixth-most routes run against man coverage this season, and as a unit have posted the seventh-worst EPA per target. They desperately need someone else to step up outside of Lamb, and Kupp would be that guy.
The only reason Dallas isn’t higher is because they might think they’re good with what they have (lol), and Kupp occupies the same spaces on the field as Lamb, so you’d get a lot of overlap. That being said, if anyone is going to make a big swing, might as well be the Cowboys.
6. San Francisco 49ers
It’s RARE to see trades within the division, and especially between rivals such as the Rams and Niners. However, this trade makes so much sense for San Francisco. WR Brandon Aiyuk is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL and MCL, WR Deebo Samuel is in the hospital with pneumonia and Jauan Jennings is also hurt. Not to mention RB Christian McCaffrey is dealing with tendinitis in both Achilles. So, the current skill position group is consisting of TE George Kittle, FB Kyle Juszczyk, WRs Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Ronnie Bell. With as much man coverage as the 49ers have seen, getting a guy who can consistently separate would be key. Kupp could work in that power slot role next to Pearsall when the Niners go to 21 personnel, and when Samuel gets back it allows them to be more versatile.
I highly doubt it happens, but the Niners are hanging onto their playoff hopes here. They might need to make a swing.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been looking for receiver help since the offseason, and missing out on both Brandon Aiyuk and Davante Adams (regardless of how realistic it actually was) has left them sore. Pittsburgh is in the right shape team-wise to make a win now move, and Kupp would bring them that. He can operate in the slot with WR George Pickens taking most of the outside reps, and with as much snaps the Steelers play in bigger personnel, Kupp will be able to find his spots to win in the quick game.
Catching passes from Russell Wilson (or Justin Fields) might not be the most enticing option, but the Steelers are a playoff team. Kupp can find success there.
