Rams’ perfect Cooper Kupp replacement just fell into Sean McVay’s lap

The LA Rams have informed veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp (as reported by the player himself) that he would be traded 'immediately.' While the reference to time is subjective, the consensus is that the team will either trade or release Kupp by mid-March, as that is when his roster bonus of $7.5 million comes due.

In terms of age, Kupp is not necessarily ancient. He is 31 years old, an age that still holds promise for NFL players who adhere to strict diets, workout regimens, and offseason training. Kupp absolutely is in that category. But since his record-setting 2021 NFL season, Kupp has been injury prone. Of 51 possible games over the past three seasons, Kupp has suited up for 33 games. He gained 1,947 yards and scored 16 touchdowns in 2021. He has gained just 2,259 yards and scored 17 touchdowns in the three seasons following that season.

It's up to you to determine why the Rams are taking the position of parting ways now. Kupp may not be the same offensive weapon of the past, but there is no indication that the team tried to rework his contract to restore a balance between compensation and production. At the same time, Kupp's exodus creates a huge hole in the Rams offense that is not currently fillable.

At least, not from the team's current roster.

A perfect Cooper Kupp replacement just fell into Sean McVay’s lap

If the team wants to fill the crucial role held by Cooper Kupp, but wants to secure more availability from that player, then the perfect replacement may have fallen into Rams HC Sean McVay's lap. The New York Jets have informed QB Aaron Rodgers that he won't be back, a decision that has huge implications for the rest of the Jets roster.

One huge name to be on the watch for is Jets WR Davante Adams, who has a similar pedigree to Kupp, is far more likely to suit up, and as shared by ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler, is intrigued at the thought of playing for the Los Angeles Rams:

He is currently under contract for a huge sum in 2025. But there are those who expect his outright release. Should that happen, and with the player already expressing interest in returning to the West Coast, the game is afoot. As NFL Insider Ian Rapoport so eloquently connects the dots. Rodgers moving on is a huge and compelling reason for Adams to move on as well:

Does it make sense?

Why Adams to the Rams makes logical sense

I can already sense the skepticism from fans. After all, if the team is so quick to pull the trigger on Cooper Kupp, a 31-year-old wide receiver who knows this offense through and through, what could compel the same team to exert any effort so sign an older 32-year-old wide receiver named Davante Adams who is unfamiliar with the Rams offense? Here's why:

(3) Davante Adams is durable

Davante Adams is entering his 12th NFL season. Having suited up for 164 games over 11 NFL seasons, Adams averages 15 games played per year. That is a full two games per season higher than Cooper Kupp. In his eight NFL seasons, Kupp has suited up for 104 games. That works out to averaging just 13 games per year.

While the per season margin may seem small, if the Rams had similar durability from Kupp as Adams, Kupp would have played 16 more games for the team, or the equivalent to a full season. For a player of Cooper Kupp's caliber, that equates to 1000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. That would have been nice to add to the Rams offensive totals.

(2) Adams is both productive and a scoring threat

In eight seasons, Kupp put up 7,776 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns. In 11 seasons, Davante Adams has amassed 11,844 receiving yards and 103 touchdowns. While there are no guarantees that Adams will be just as dangerous in the Rams offense, his success did not diminish with either the Raiders or the Jets. While just speculation, I believe that Adams would be a quick success in the Rams offense.

Playing in Sean McVay's offense and catching Matthew Stafford's passes has a way of showing up in a big way in NFL games' box score. A wide receiver who already scores on 6.8 percent of his targets is always a welcome addition. Kupp has scored on 6.4 percent of his targets.

The only hiccup to the Rams interest in Adams in his 63.3 percent career catch rate. That is significantly lower than Kupp's 71.2 percent career catch rate. So there is that dropoff to be aware of.

(1) Adams window is the same as that of Matthew Stafford

While we speculate on how this team may restructure the offense, let's step back for just a moment. The youth movement has been tremendously successful on the defensive side of the football. The Rams have gotten from their first and second year players in a defense that was left for dead after Aaron Donald retired.

But the offense did not. And that may not be the fault of the Rams front office. The team added two playmakers in the 2024 NFL Draft in rookie RB Blake Corum and rookie WR Jordan Whittington. Neither rookie made much of an impact because neither player was given much of an opportunity to do so. The Rams offense, like it or not, sticks with veteran players until they are beaten up and forced to the bench with injuries.

Even rookie sensation Puka Nacua did not earn his place in the Rams offense on merit alone. He was promoted to start as a rookie when Cooper Kupp was injured.

Any scenario that involves veteran WR Davante Adams would play out far differently. Added to the Rams roster, he would instantly take on a starting wide receiver role, give the offense a strong wide receiver tandem with Adams and Nacua. Now, who backfills into their third and fourth receiver role in that scenario? You have to consider second-year Jordan Whittington for a larger role in 2025, right? He showed tremendous grit and physicality when he played in Week 18.

Davante Adams has plenty left in his tank. His shelf-life parallels that of veteran QB Matthew Stafford. And if the team took a hit to relations with Stafford's negotiating team over the intention to trade his friend, Cooper Kupp, adding Davante Adames to the team could smooth things over rather quickly.

As always, thanks for reading:

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