NFL insider points to 4 painfully obvious landing sites for Rams Cooper Kupp

(3) Washington Commanders

The Cinderella team of the NFL Playoffs ball has to be the Washington Commanders, led by rookie quarterback Jayden McDaniels. Of course, whenever a rookie quarterback emerges with the Offensive Rookie of the Year honors while competing in the NFC or AFC Championship game, you are going to generate a lot of buzz in NFL circles. And that buzz creates interest among NFL veterans who may have made their money, and now want to add a Super Bowl victory to their NFL careers.

Commanders HC Dan Quinn hired former Arizona Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury to run the offense, a coach who is intimately familiar with Cooper Kupp's quality. Jayden Daniels is such an offensive weapon for the Commanders, that Kupp will likely not be asked to be a tight end/wide receiver in this offense.

The Commanders top wide receiver is Terry McLaurin, a fast outside receiver who is a dangerous receiver in that offense. The runner up receiver in the offense is veteran tight end Zach Ertz. Ertz found his fountain of youth in the Commanders' offense in 2024. That same resurgence is an almost certainty if Kupp joins their band of merry men.

Kupp brings post-season proficiency to a very young quarterback, a vital ingredient that could be just enough to get the team over the hump. Kupp is particularly effective against the Philadelphia Eagles, as he faced them in two games, caught 13 of 18 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown. That is the type of offensive production that could ensure the Commanders get a couple of wins against a solid NFC East Division rival.

Why don't the Commanders land higher? East Coast teams play for an entirely different type of fans, and the lifestyle in and around Washington DC is nothing like the lifestyle found on the West Coast. Those differences make this landing site difficult to reconcile and land a higher projection.

(2) Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a team on the rise, having lured former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton out of retirement. Payton knows what he wants on offense, and makes snap decisions to ensure that they happen with few questions asked. Payton was the mastermind that released veteran QB Russell Wilson, despite the huge dead salary cap hit inflicted on his team.

The Broncos were 5-12 in 2022, 8-9 in 2023, and 10-7 in 2024. The Broncos traded with the Saints for the rights to hire Payton in February 2023, so it was an investment that seems to be paying off. Now, how does Cooper Kupp fit in the Broncos offense?

Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has a long-standing history with Payton, and he brings that successful history with him to the Broncos. Lombardi is a bit of old school mindset in his offensive structure, setting a tone by demanding a quality offensive line.

Lombardi loves to get production from the tight end position, loves to bunch wide receivers in his initial formation, and uses routes to create natural rubs among defensive backs to ensure separation for his quarterback. Rather than expecting wide receivers to block like tight ends, Lombardi's offense views wide receivers as pass catchers. That role very much aligns with the skillset of veteran WR Cooper Kupp right now.