[Youngblood22]

I think KUPP could play TE. yes, no, thoughts?

[BobCarl]

A bridge QB is the guy usually a veteran player bridging the time gap before a rookie is ready to start. Okay clear enough?

We don't want Garoppolo to be that guy. He's a disaster. Stafford has higher earning potential than to be just a "bridge QB"

[BobCarl]

I think KUPP could play TE. yes, no, thoughts?

he often lines up as a TE, and is good at blocking for finesse run plays, but you don't want him being your 6th offensive lineman on 3rd and 1

[Elvis]

[Elvis]

[ramsman34]

The more I think about this, the more convinced I am that Kupp not only would not agree to a pay cut, but also was not happy about his “use” down the stretch. He truly believes he is still elite. And, the Rams simply don’t think he is elite to the tune of his cap hit. The Rams also know they can use those resources to improve in multiple areas.

[FMulder]

I agree with this, but it seems to represent an irrationally loyal, financially questionable trend the Rams have exhibited at times. NOBODY felt that Kupp was not one of the best WRs in the league. However, he received a very very very big contract in terms of $, length, and guarantees that didn’t seem to match some of the concerns some of us had at the time.

Kupp was on the wrong side of 30. Kupp suffered injuries that kept him out for periods of time and impacted his performance at times, while playing. Specifically, he suffered a variety of lower body injuries. And as a WR, those are deathly. Putting the length of the contract and its value into play, Kupp would have had to perform at his pre-2024 levels for at least another 3 years to make the extension justifiable IMO. That’s an awfully big ask, especially for a WR who has put a lot of miles on his body and made his living with precise route running and separation. The fear of those concerns came again this season. Another year in which he suffered injuries (and lower body ones at that) resulting in greater difficulty in getting that necessary separation that helped made him elite.

I want to be clear. Kupp is one of my fave Rams ever. He epitomizes what every Ram should aspire to be. He is unselfish, a tireless worker at his craft, a great teammate, a clutch performer, and an all-around cool guy. That said, the Rams put themselves into a bit of a corner by acknowledging all of those things contractually, at the most tenuous time of his career.

It is a laudable trait to treat your stars well in all aspects, including financially. To show recognition and appreciation etc. However, this feels, to a lesser degree, like the Gurley situation where to me it was becoming obvious that a guy with a rebuilt knee being used at a high rate, getting towards “middle-age” as the type of RB he was, was on the wrong side of things. Instead he got a huge contract and again put financial constraints on the ability to do some things to help the team going forward.

There are way too many examples of teams using up players and then tossing them to the curb. There are way too many examples of teams penny pinching players to death or not compensating them for their value. However, sometimes I think the Rams go too far the other way(?).

I think the fans that are critical of some of these contractual moves (me) are NOT critical of the player. I think Kupp can be a contributor going forward. I just have doubts that he can return to his previous levels and/or sustain them for more than a year or so. Based on that fear, I think it is necessary to move on. However, I think in terms of the Gurley and Kupp situations it was almost as if they were giving them contracts on their past performance vs their realistic expectations of their performance going forward.

Just my .02

[Youngblood22]

Its sad for me to think of kupp leaving, I was born in southern california but lived in Yakima WA for 25 years, (now in big bear) while I was living there I worked right across the street from Davis high school where kupp went to school, I often wonder if I stood next to him in a store or at the mall. We used to chase the high school kids out of the parking lot that were ditching class. I think he can be a NFL coach someday. Good luck cooper.

[AvengerRam]

One factor that hasn’t been talked about too much which could be a significant factor is Puka’s status. While, by all accounts, he has a good relationship with Kupp, at some point it becomes difficult to be a WR1 making a small fraction of what the WR2 makes. Also, next offseason, extending Puka will be a top priority, so getting Kupp’s contract off the books (for the most part) now makes sense.

[BobCarl]

It seems as if someone took one of my posts and used an AI to rewrite it and publish it to Pro Football Rumors website.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2025/ ... kupp-trade

Rams Willing To Eat Money In Kupp Trade
February 4th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Nikhil Mehta
In their search for a Cooper Kupp trade partner, the Rams are willing to eat some of the money remaining on the star wide receiver’s contract, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Kupp is set to earn $20MM in 2025, made up of $12.5MM in base salary and a $7.5MM 90-man roster bonus due on March 17, per OverTheCap. $5MM of that roster bonus became fully guaranteed in 2024.

A pre-June 1 trade would already require the Rams to absorb the remaining prorations of Kupp’s signing bonus as a $17.26MM dead cap hit in 2025. That would allow them to pursue other needs in free agency with additional capital in this year’s draft.

Waiting until after June 1 would allow the Rams to push $7.48MM of dead money to 2026, but they would then also be responsible for Kupp’s 2025 roster bonus, essentially making the deferment a wash. The delay would also cost them 2025 draft capital in addition to the opportunity to sign top free agents in March.

Accordingly, the Rams would rather get a trade done before the new league year starts, explaining their willingness to absorb even more of Kupp’s contract. In the past, the Rams have paid a roster bonus early as a way of eating money to facilitate a trade, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That would help firm up a market for Kupp, who is expected to have suitors due to his pedigree as a tough, savvy, and versatile playmaker. If the Rams can alleviate the financial burden of acquiring the 31-year-old, his age and recent injuries would be his only remaining concerns.

Kupp’s skillset would make him a fit in almost any NFL offense, but certain teams will make more sense than others. Among them, according to Fowler, are the Steelers, the Commanders, and the Patriots. Pittsburgh were interested at the 2024 trade deadline, while Washington and New England both have plenty of cap space and young passers that would benefit from an experienced, quarterback-friendly receiver like Kupp. The Lions also have enough cap room to absorb his contract as well as Kupp’s former teammate, Jared Goff, under center.