3 reasons why Rams have made a blunder by releasing Cooper Kupp

It has gone downhill for Cooper Kupp very quickly. From being one of the most sought-after veteran wide receivers in the trade market, he is at the risk of being released by the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams allowed Kupp to seek a trade partner right after Super Bowl LIX ended. It came as a shock because Kupp has been a long-time starter for the Rams and a veteran voice in the locker room.

Kupp, in an interview, revealed that he always wanted to finish his career with the LA outfit and that he doesn’t agree that he can’t provide the necessary numbers any longer. However, he also knows the NFL is a business, and anything can happen once the trade window opens.

If there’s one thing that I have learned over the years, it’s that there are so many things that are out of your control, but it is how you respond to these things that you will look back on and remember.

Cooper Kupp said back in February

If the brass agreed to move on from him, then they had a replacement in their mind. Sure enough, the Rams signed 6x Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams, sending alarm bells ringing for Kupp’s camp.

The Rams still sought a late fourth or early fifth round pick in exchange for Kupp, but even after a month of waiting, they have yet to find a team willing to meet their conditions. On Monday, hours after Adams’ signing, ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced that the Rams might release Cooper Kupp if they fail to trade him.

Rams must ensure a post-June 1 release for Cooper Kupp

The Rams were smacked down the middle of the pack before the start of free agency with $44.7 million in cap space. After signing Adams, that dropped to $32 million as he occupies the fourth highest space.

Kupp is still ahead of Adams in the salary department. He signed a three-year, $80.1 million contract until 2026 that includes a $20 million signing bonus and $75 million guaranteed. On the salary chart, he occupies the second spot with a $12.5 million base salary in 2025.

If the Rams cut Kupp in the offseason, then the Rams will save $15 million in cash and $7.52 million against the salary cap. However, general manager Les Snead must ensure a post-June 1 release for the former third-rounder; otherwise, they will take a hit of $22.2 million in dead money due to the remaining prorated portions of his signing bonus and $5 million of his roster bonus.

Breaking up an established partnership with Puka Nacua

Usually teams don’t break an established partnership that they have built from the ground up; the Bengals know best. The Rams appear to be heading in the other direction by releasing Kupp.

Following their Super Bowl win in 2021, the season in which Kupp caught 145 passes for 1947 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, he faced a series of injuries. The ankle problems limited his time on the field.

In the meantime, the Rams drafted Puka Nacua in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. Nacua took over the WR2 spot with a stunning 105 receptions for 1486 yards and 6 touchdowns during his rookie season. The man formerly of BYU emerged as the perfect complement to Kupp’s route-running skills as the Rams made consecutive playoff appearances and even won their division in 2024.

During an appearance on the Up & Adams Show, Nacua revealed that he was surprised to hear about the Rams trading Kupp to another team.

It definitely feels weird. We had an opportunity to play one of the teams who are playing in the Super Bowl… I’ve been blessed to have Cooper Kupp be my mentor and to be able to follow him and to be able to watch him interact with everybody in our facility, to be the leader he was and the team captain.

Puka Nacua said

Risk of losing Kupp to a rival for free

The trade deadline closes at 4 p.m. on March 12. The Rams must decide whether to at least accept a late-round pick or risk losing him for free to a rival team.

Several receiver-needy teams can take a chance with him once he hits free agency. The likeliest destination for the 31-year-old is the Seattle Seahawks, a team that released veteran Tyler Lockett and traded DK Metcalf in the space of 24 hours.

Head coach Mike Macdonald is in full rebuild mode, and Kupp can be the perfect experienced replacement he can bring in to fill the void left by Lockett and Metcalf. The upside is that Kupp was born in Washington and played college ball at Eastern Washington. A move closer to his home should entice him, and he will stay in the same division as the Rams.

The Seahawks also signed former 49ers and Jets’ QB Sam Darnold on a three-year deal. A new partnership of Darnold, Kupp, and third-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba could prove to be an exciting trio.

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