Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp says team is trying to trade him and that he doesn’t like it
The Los Angeles Rams have informed Cooper Kupp that they plan to “seek a trade immediately” and will work to find the right situation, according to the star receiver himself. It’s an expected move given the rumors this past season, however, for fans it’s still shocking none the less.
Kupp posted to “X” Monday afternoon with the news:
“I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships. I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA.
Still, if there’s one thing that I have learned over the years: 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.
I have taken so much pride in playing alongside my teammates for the LA community, so thank you for embracing my family and making this such a special place for us.
2024 began with one of the best training camps of my career. Preparations start now for 2025. Highly motivated, as healthy as ever, and looking forward to playing elite football for years to come. Love you guys…But coming for it all.”
Kupp has been a staple of LA’s receiver room ever since his arrival in 2017. He was drafted out of Eastern Washington in the 3rd round of Sean McVay’s first draft with the team. Kupp impacted the Rams immediately, totaling 62 receptions, 869 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie and it only got better from there.
I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships. I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA.
Still, if there’s… pic.twitter.com/XWmbGVscGy
— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) February 4, 2025
No doubt his highlight season with Los Angeles came in 2021, where Kupp would win the NFL’s receiving “triple crown” title, leading the league in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16). Kupp would win offensive player of the year on his way to his first ring in Super Bowl LVI, as well as the Super Bowl MVP award.
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Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Unfortunately, hamstring injuries derailed Kupp after his championship season. He struggled to get on the field in 2022, playing in only nine games. This trend would continue, as he missed chunks of training camp in 2023 and 2024 due to injury, while playing in only 12 games each of the last two seasons.
The emergence of WR Puka Nacua also did not help Kupp, as he saw his playing time dwindle away as Nacua took over as the focal point of the offense. While Kupp is still an effective wideout in both the passing and run blocking game, his $29.78 million dollar cap hit heading into 2025 was just to much of a price tag for Los Angeles given the lack of production and availability the past few years.
The Rams will now need to work on finding his replacement, either through the draft or free agency. Luckily, there are some decent options with the likes of Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin and Keenan Allen potentially becoming available come March. Even so, no one can deny that Kupp being traded is a major loss of leadership and continuity in the locker room, and that may be harder to replace than any type of on-field production.
