LA Rams News: 2020 or bust for these 5 offensive players

Cooper Kupp

Before you rush to the comments section to challenge my sanity, hear me out. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp had one helluva 2019 season after spending 2018 injured with an ACL injury. In fact, he led the LA Rams in receiving yards. And he joined teammate Robert Woods as members of the exclusive 1000 receiving yards in the same season for the same team.  Yes, he’s THAT good.  But he is entering his contract year for a team just burned by overcommitting to offensive skill players just a year ago. So there’s a bit of pain involved with the Rams when it comes to re-signing players who do well for one season.

Not that Kupp has anything to worry about.  He led the Rams receivers in 2019 for good reason. He runs incredible routes, and he has a knack about getting open when the Rams need a big play on offense.  In fact, many have compared rookie wide receiver, Van Jefferson, to Cooper Kupp. So why is he at risk of not returning in 2021?

No money, no mission

Simply stated, a contract to play for the LA Rams in 2021 resides at the end of a very long, narrow, and treacherous 2020 season. If he plays too poorly in 2020, the Rams will look at that production and reasonably pass on offering Kupp a competitive contract to remain with the team.  After all, the team has to pay for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, has already added a younger clone in rookie WR Jefferson, and is still reeling from the financial setback of putting too much money into WR Brandin Cooks, only to watch helplessly as his production tumbled.

But the Rams also face the more likely scenario where Kupp has a career season for the team in 2020.  Much like ILB Cory Littleton this off-season, a great year by Kupp may price his next contract out of reach for the Rams uncertain financial future. As painful as it may be to believe if he is too good and is unwilling to give the Rams the “home team” discount, Kupp’s market value may simply be so high that the Rams will be unwilling to enter a bidding war. While other players must play well to return, Kupp may play so well that he will be offered a very lucrative contract to play elsewhere. If these five players show up in 2020, the Rams could return to the Super Bowl. If not, they may not return to the team in 2021.