[BobCarl]

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 .... Kupp would have had to perform at his pre-2024 levels for at least another 3 years to make the extension justifiable

Your entire post is awesome!

A brief history recap about Kupp ...

Kupp ran a 4.62 second 40-yard dash at the 2017 combine. Chosen by the Rams and proved to be the steal of the draft.

He got injured and missed playing in the Super Bowl when the Rams lost to the Patriots.

His rehab involved re-learning how to walk, run, release at the snap, and execute routes.

When fully healed his 40-time became an elite 4.3 speed. Nobody in the NFL could stop him.

He took the NFL by storm, set records, and became the Super Bowl MVP

His last injury set him back, he's lost two steps maybe more, no longer at 4.3 elite speed, in fact he looks slower than he was as a rookie.

He still has elite hands, body control, route running skills, and aptitude to make in-route adjustments.

He is well worth $12 mill a year ... not $20 mill.


Below is an excerpt from a 2022 Washington Post article about Kupp shortly after the Rams won the Super Bowl

Washington Post
February 14, 2022

Kupp, who missed the Rams’ loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII because of a knee injury, said in the days leading up to this title game that the injury afforded him perspective. It gave him a chance to remake his body and his game any way he saw fit.

He could teach himself to run the way he wanted to run. He could run routes the way he wanted to run routes. He could cut the way he wanted to cut and eliminate any bad habits from the past.

As his body recovered, his mind was already on to the next — next season, next play, next shot at a title.

It was the most difficult thing he endured, he said, but never once did he doubt he could return to the player he was.

Yet he didn’t return to being the same player.

He returned better, establishing himself as a premier wide receiver and the NFL’s gold standard, with refined route-running, rare quickness, oft-overlooked speed and, above all, a capacity for the game that made him more like a coach than simply another chess piece.

He could anticipate the second level of defense — and often the third —

[snackdaddy]

The teams who showed interest last year's trade window are no longer interested in trading for him. That is telling as far as their chances to get any compensation for him. Its quite possible they just cut him and let him go where he feels is the best spot for him. If that happens I sure hope its not with a division rival. He not only would improve their wide receiver room, he'd help the others be better at their craft. Which is not good for us.

[rams74]

The teams who showed interest last year's trade window are no longer interested in trading for him. That is telling as far as their chances to get any compensation for him. Its quite possible they just cut him and let him go where he feels is the best spot for him. If that happens I sure hope its not with a division rival. He not only would improve their wide receiver room, he'd help the others be better at their craft. Which is not good for us.

Yeah, the Rams need to dictate where he goes, even if it costs them a few dollars. Don't just cut him and have him end up in Santa Clara. Or New England, either.

I'd be interested to see him team up with Goff in Detroit, but I think it's unlikely. The Lions have a room full of good, young receivers already. But Washington could use him to help with their young QB. I'd be ok with that, too.

This whole thing stinks. I hate losing Kupp.

[Dare]

This has all the makings of a cap clearing effort. Hoping for a 4th round pick? More like a 6th round pick. The way they announced it was more about saving cap space and it's like they have someone waiting until they do.

I'd be surprised if they didn't hear from the Chargers with a 7th round pick in hand. You don't think Herbert wouldn't love having Kupp? They aren't far from being a contender and Kupp won't have to move. I think they want Kupp in the AFC as they did with Ramsey.

It will be interested in where he ends up and why the rush?

[Elvis]

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.

One of my theories/guesses/sense of the situation is McVay has a vision for the future of the offense and is anxious to get to it.

Keeping Kupp around and trying to maximize what he has left wouldn't fit in with that.

Like i said, just a guess but a sense i get, seems like a possibility.

Of course it could purely be about money...

[actionjack]

One of my theories/guesses/sense of the situation is McVay has a vision for the future of the offense and is anxious to get to it.

Keeping Kupp around and trying to maximize what he has left wouldn't fit in with that.

Like i said, just a guess but a sense i get, seems like a possibility.

Of course it could purely be about money...

Kinda goes back to what McVay said in the pressor that stood out to me. He wants to be more multiple in the run and pass. Sounds like some scheme but more about players.

I see the Rams adding a a more athletic WR vs what they had in Kupp to pair with Puka and Whitt. Also I would not be shocked if the Rams went after one of the top TE's in the draft.