Rams GM Shuts Down Potential Return by WR Cooper Kupp
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead is fairly confident wide receiver Cooper Kupp won't be back in 2025.
Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been on the trade block for a little over a month. But with what seems to be very little interest in his market, could the Rams consider just keeping the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year?
While that isn’t completely out of the question, Rams general manager Les Snead seemed to shut the door on a potential return by Kupp.
“There is a scenario, but when you get into probabilities that would be the least likely,” Snead said via Adam Schefter of ESPN. “I don’t want to tell you ‘no’ today and then next week he’s a Ram. You see what we’re trying to do. We’re working to try to find a partner and a next chapter for Cooper and ourselves.”
There is reason for Kupp’s dry market. He will turn 32 this summer and has missed significant playing time in each of the past three seasons due to injury. He played nine games in 2022 and 12 each in 2023 and 2024 while dealing with multiple ankle injuries and a hamstring issue.
There also seems to be a growing number of wide receiver options around the league. On Wednesday, the Jacksonville Jaguars shared their plans to release Christian Kirk and the Seattles Seahawks released Tyler Lockett while DK Metcalf requested a trade shortly after.
Nonetheless, Kupp can still prove to be a serviceable wide receiver for another team. His best football is behind him, but he still had 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 2024.
The wide receiver-needy Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly already shown interest in Kupp, but it remains to be seen whether they are willing to pay his $20 million salary in 2025. Kupp is also due $19.85 million in 2026. Only $5 million of that money is guaranteed, though.
If the Rams are desperate enough to get Kupp off their books, they may be willing to release him. However, they seem focused on executing a trade for now.
Since being drafted in the third round (No. 69 overall) by the Rams in 2017, Kupp has recorded 634 catches for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns.