5 NFL teams who are the clear front-runners to trade for Rams WR Cooper Kupp

(4) - Houston Texans

There are simply too many logical links to Cooper Kupp from one of the myriad of coaches who have gone on to advance their NFL careers with new teams, so I will let you connect those dots. But there is one recent hire from the LA Rams coaching staff that makes sense to lean into his team and put pressure to trade for veteran WR Cooper Kupp. That is former Rams Pass Game Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach Nick Caley, who has signed on with the Houston Texans as their new offensive coordinator.

Who better to bring aboard the Texans roster than Cooper Kupp to help retrain the Texans receivers in their new offensive philosophy and strategy? Seriously, trading for Kupp brings the benefits of a player and a coach combined. And with a new offensive coordinator, the benefits of getting buy-in from players, often the most difficult step in the process, is virtually assured if the offensive coordinator seeds the roster with a player from his former team.

The Texans offense regressed in 2024, as is sometimes the case. The team had a primary running back in veteran Joe Mixon. The team has a primary receiver in Nico Collins. Once again, even with playing just 12 games, inserting Cooper Kupp into the Texans offense would instantly give them a solid WR2 behind Collins, both in terms of receiving yards and touchdowns.

But Kupp brings more than on-field production. Texans QB C.J. Stroud is entering his third NFL season, perhaps the most important season of his NFL career. If you think back, that would equate to 2018 for former Rams QB Jared Goff, and became the season that Goff led the Rams to Super Bowl LIII. Kupp may not possess the jets to fly by defensive backs on the football field. But he remains a gritty receiver who can create separation, get yards after the catch, and block like a tight end.

Will the Texans trade for Cooper Kupp? I don't know. Should the Texans trade for Cooper Kupp? Only if they want to win a Super Bowl.

(3) - Philadelphia Eagles

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And for the Philadelphia Eagles, perhaps the best way for their defense to get WR Cooper Kupp harnessed is to sign him to their own roster. Yes, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the LA Rams in both games that they squared off in 2024 (once in the regular season, once in the 2025 NFL Playoffs). But you cannot fault Rams WR Cooper Kupp for those losses.

In those two games against the Eagles combined, Kupp hauled in 13 of 18 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown. That works out to a 72.2 percent catch rate, which is very impressive for a guy who finds himself on the trading block. Perhaps the better measure is what Eagles players think of Cooper Kupp.

In one word, Eagles players have this to say about Cooper Kupp: Respect:

The Philadelphia Eagles offense was supercharged with the addition of RB Saquon Barkley. They fielded the eighth-ranked offense, second-ranked rushing offense, seventh-ranked scoring offense, and 29th-ranked passing offense. Of course, when the offensive formula is run Barkley right, run Barkley left, run Barkley into the end zone, a pedestrian passing offense is easy to ignore.

Which is exactly why the Eagles cannot afford to do so.

Unlike other teams on this list, the Philadelphia Eagles have two veteran wide receivers whose production stands up very well to Cooper Kupp's 2024 numbers. But win or lose Super Bowl LIX, the Eagles roster will undergo some changes in 2025. And as we all know, smart NFL teams jump on opportunities when they occur. Cooper Kupp is a quality locker room kind of player. The Eagles may need that calming instructive veteran to help QB Jalen Hurts achieve his optimal NFL play-making ability.

Better to take the chance, then live with regrets for never having done so.