Rams sweeten Cooper Kupp trade but may have missed optimal offers in 2024

When the LA Rams traded for All-Pro OLB Von Miller from the Denver Broncos in 2021, the team offered Round 2 and Round 3 picks for Miller, and it managed to pry him from the Broncos roster. The explanation in the aftermath of that historic trade cited the Round 2 pick for Von Miller, and the Round 3 pick as compensation for the Broncos to swallow the millions due Miller as part of his salary cap hit.

Now, it appears as though the roles are reversed. You see, the immediate pushback to the announcement from Rams WR Cooper Kupp and his notification that the team wanted to trade him immediately is the cost of his current contract. In 2025, Kupp will cost his acquiring team $20 million in 2025 and $19.85 million in 2026.

Some view that as too high of a price tag for what Kupp brings to a new team.

So, in keeping with the Von Miller deal from 2021, the Rams have shared via NFL Insider Ian Rapoport tat they are willing to eat money with an early roster bonus payment. That would lower Kupp's salary hit for an acquiring team to just $12.5 million, a bargain.

Of course, the Rams are not a philanthropic organization or a charity. If Kupp's value is a Round 5 pick on the player alone, then a Kupp + salary relief should be worth a Round 3 or 4 pick. So, that should splash a bit of gas on the NFL rumors surrounding Cooper Kupp.

Several NFL teams were eager to trade for Kupp after the Rams had fallen to a record of 1-4. But no deal was hammered out, the team won nine of their final twelve games and earned a playoff berth. But over that playoff push, it was obvious that Cooper Kupp was no longer THAT guy. Over the final four games of 2024, Kupp sat out in Week 18, was targeted nine times, and hauled in four passes for 53 yards and no touchdowns.

Every other NFL GM noticed his struggles:

The team received offers for Cooper Kupp in 2024, some offers had measurable value. But in the 2025 offseason, NFL GMs weigh the option to trade for Cooper Kupp over the option to sign a free agent wide receiver (with no cost added for trade) or the 2025 NFL Draft (at much less contract obligations).

The language shared by Kupp, citing an 'immediate' trade, suggests that the team is not interested in paying Kupp his $7.5 million roster bonus that will be due on the fifth day of the 2025 NFL year. To avoid the payout, the team is likely prepared to cut Kupp before that happens.

The Rams have already drawn an early line in the sand that sends a message that the 2025 offense is undergoing an overhaul. Long-term contributor Cooper Kupp is being shown the door, much like the team traded former WR Robert Woods to the Tennessee Titans in 2022. Now, we have to speculate what the team might get in terms of value and what the team will do in 2025 sans Kupp.

Much like 2021, the Los Angeles Rams are showing a heightened sense of urgency once more. As always, thanks for reading.

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