With the Los Angeles Rams season heading in direction of the pit of despair, many have speculated in regards to the availability of star wideout Cooper Kupp. The 31-year-old receiver has been cold and hot to begin this season, and with the NFL commerce deadline approaching on Nov. 5, the rumors are beginning to get slightly bit louder.
The Rams have referred to as a number of groups about buying and selling former Tremendous Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp sources inform @mikesilver, @jourdanrodrigue, and me.
The Rams have indicated a willingness to tackle a number of the ‘24 wage and are searching for a 2nd spherical decide.— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 22, 2024
With Los Angeles prepared to tackle a few of Kupp’s wage and solely asking for a second spherical decide in return, it seems like the top of Kupp’s tenure in LA is arriving quickly. Kupp is an fascinating receiver, with a majority of his success coming within the slot and off of movement and free releases. He may not be a match for everybody, however with as many Shanahan and McVay offenses are on the market, it’s undoubtedly value a shot. With that being mentioned, which groups can and may commerce for him? We ranked the highest 7 locations, beginning with some actual contenders.
1 . Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Monday evening was the sport from hell for the Bucs offense. Not solely did they lose to the Baltimore Ravens in a sport that wasn’t practically as shut as the ultimate rating would possibly point out, they misplaced receiver Chris Godwin to a dislocated ankle. As well as, different prime receiver Mike Evans went out early with a hamstring damage that With Godwin out for the season and never realizing an excessive amount of about Evans’ standing, the Bucs must make an enormous swing with the intention to hold their playoff hopes alive.
Including Kupp into this offense could be much like what Godwin gave Tampa Bay. Kupp is unbelievable within the quick to mid-range areas of the sphere, and assuming Mike Evans comes again this season, he works on this offense in the identical method that he did in Los Angeles. Keep in mind, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen was on the Rams workers from 2018-2020, starting one 12 months after Kupp was drafted. The familiarity with the scheme and total want make this the highest vacation spot.
2. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens must hold their foot on the fuel pedal. Already boasting one of the crucial dynamic offenses within the NFL, including Kupp to this roster would assist make them much more profitable from all the way down to down. With WR Zay Flowers bringing the juice to the offense and Rashod Bateman being the skin receiver for QB Lamar Jackson to hit, one other receiver to take the snaps of Nelson Agholor within the slot could be tremendous good to have. Enter Kupp, who can feast on all the eye given to the Ravens’ run sport and play iso ball towards linebackers and safeties.
The one downside with this vacation spot is how a lot 12 and 21 personnel the Ravens’ play. With already restricted snaps given to receivers, possibly Kupp takes the place of Bateman in these larger personnel groupings. However that’s a great downside to have once you’re a group like Baltimore in want of another push to get to the Tremendous Bowl.
3. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
The Chiefs desperately want one other receiver. With Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice each out for the season and Juju Smith-Schuster nonetheless nursing a hamstring damage, QB Patrick Mahomes is throwing passes to Justin Watson and Skyy Moore. Kupp would carry one other added component to the Chiefs’ loss of life by crossing route offense and might add extra success in the course of the sphere areas. If the Rams actually need to tackle most of Kupp’s wage, the Chiefs must be one of many first groups banging down the door in LA for Kupp’s providers—it would assist them attain one other Tremendous Bowl.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
I imply…this one is easy: have you ever SEEN who QB Justin Herbert is throwing to? The assorted assortments of Ladd McConkey, Simi Fehoko and Quentin Johnston aren’t ok for the Chargers to constantly win soccer video games. In an AFC the place the wild card spots are vast open, the Chargers have the QB and the defensive playcalling to noticeably make a run; they want the playmakers to take a step up for it to occur. Herbert and WR Keenan Allen had an unbelievable rapport when Allen was in LA, and Kupp shares the same skillset. With Kupp coming in, everybody else on the roster would transfer into extra complimentary roles becoming of their skills at this stage of their careers.
Plus, Kupp wouldn’t even have to alter lockers, or dwelling addresses!
5. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas’ season is barely hanging on by a thread, and the offense hasn’t been practically pretty much as good because it as soon as was. The largest motive is the shortage of a real risk exterior of CeeDee Lamb at receiver. The Cowboys have seen the sixth-most routes run towards man protection this season, and as a unit have posted the seventh-worst EPA per goal. They desperately want another person to step up exterior of Lamb, and Kupp could be that man.
The one motive Dallas isn’t greater is as a result of they could suppose they’re good with what they’ve (lol), and Kupp occupies the identical areas on the sphere as Lamb, so that you’d get lots of overlap. That being mentioned, if anybody goes to make an enormous swing, would possibly as effectively be the Cowboys.
6. San Francisco 49ers
It’s RARE to see trades throughout the division, and particularly between rivals such because the Rams and Niners. Nonetheless, this commerce makes a lot sense for San Francisco. WR Brandon Aiyuk is out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL and MCL, WR Deebo Samuel is within the hospital with pneumonia and Jauan Jennings can be harm. To not point out RB Christian McCaffrey is coping with tendinitis in each Achilles. So, the present talent place group is consisting of TE George Kittle, FB Kyle Juszczyk, WRs Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Ronnie Bell. With as a lot man protection because the 49ers have seen, getting a man who can constantly separate could be key. Kupp might work in that energy slot function subsequent to Pearsall when the Niners go to 21 personnel, and when Samuel will get again it permits them to be extra versatile.
I extremely doubt it occurs, however the Niners are hanging onto their playoff hopes right here. They could must make a swing.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been in search of receiver assist for the reason that offseason, and lacking out on each Brandon Aiyuk and Davante Adams (no matter how reasonable it really was) has left them sore. Pittsburgh is in the proper form team-wise to make a win now transfer, and Kupp would carry them that. He can function within the slot with WR George Pickens taking many of the exterior reps, and with as a lot snaps the Steelers play in larger personnel, Kupp will be capable to discover his spots to win within the fast sport.
Catching passes from Russell Wilson (or Justin Fields) may not be essentially the most engaging possibility, however the Steelers are a playoff group. Kupp can discover success there.
