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

(2) - Washington Commanders

I feel as though some may view my listing the Washington Commanders here as simply one more link to the 'pop' NFL team. But try as I might not to list the Commanders, the compelling reasons to do so far outweighed by paltry reasons that served to fuel my reluctance. So here we go.

The Washington Commanders fielded the NFL's seventh-ranked offense, fifth-ranked scoring offense, third-ranked rushing offense, and 17th-ranked passing offense. As many accolades you likely read about Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels for his 2024 performance, he was bolstered by an outstanding rushing offense that put up 2,619 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns last season.

The Commander ran 526 times, and passed just 525 times. Once more, dropping Kupp's 12-game performance from 2024 into the Commanders final season statistics sets Kupp at the second most proficient receiver in terms of yards, and third most proficient receiver in terms of scoring.

And a former NFL player-turned-analyst, Robert Griffin III, sees a perfect setup for Kupp as an ideal complement to Commanders WR Terry McLaurin:

Would a change of scenery to the Commander's offense benefit Kupp? You decide. But keep in mind that veteran tight end Zach Ertz hauled in 66 of 91 targets for 654 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024 in the Commanders offense. He had not put up numbers anywhere close to that level since 2019 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Perhaps the Washington Commanders do possess a fountain of youth for veteran players. If it works for Ertz, why not trade for Cooper Kupp?

(1) - Minnesota VIkings

Did I save the best for last? I know that Rams WR Cooper Kupp will inevitably be linked to his former offensive coordinator, now Minnesota Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell. The Vikings managed to resuscitate the career of veteran QB Sam Darnold in 2024. Can they do the same in 2025 by trading for Rams WR Cooper Kupp?

The Vikings offense clocked in as the 12th-ranked offense in 2024, the ninth-ranked scoring offense, the 19th-ranked rushing offense, and the sixth-ranked passing offense. The Vikings relied on RB Aaron Jones to handle the lion's share of carries last season. But former Rams RB Cam Akers averaged very similar YPC numbers on far fewer carries.

The Vikings receiver room was saturated with talent in 2024, getting huge production from both WR Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Is there room for one more? At least one person thinks so.

The Vikings have not balked when it came time to add former Rams players. They traded for former RB Cam Akers in 2023. They signed former Rams blocking TE Johnny Mundt. And they added former Rams KR/PR/WR Brandon Powell. So conceptualizing a trade that sends Kupp to the Vikings for a modest Day 3 draft pick is not absurd.

The bonus to any trade scenario with the Vikings is that it does not involve a hard sell. Kevin O'Connell coached Cooper Kupp and is intimately aware of what that player does and does not bring to the football field and the locker room. Kupp is the type of NFL player that all competitive teams need on their roster. He is always willing to contribute, is universally versatile throughout NFL offenses, and can step up from a rotational role to a starter instantly.

Just imagine a Vikings offense that fields Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Cooper Kupp on the football field simultaneously? That would be a very difficult offense to stop.

Of course, there very well could be other teams in the mix. But knowing that the Rams want to work with Kupp to find him an ideal landing spot on a very competitive team, these five teams check all the boxes. Now it's simply a matter of being patient enough to wait for the story to come to a conclusion.

As always, thanks for reading.

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