Breaking: Cooper Kupp’s Market Value Drops as Team Seeks…
The Cooper Kupp trade rumors didn’t last very long now that the Los Angeles Rams find themselves back in contention in the NFC West.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the feeling is that Kupp is no longer on the market with receiver-needy teams “looking elsewhere” leading up to the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 5.
Kupp was a surprise addition to the rumor mill last week when The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported the Rams had talks with multiple teams about the star receiver.
Russini added that the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers were among the teams that expressed an interest in Kupp. Two of those teams made a move for a pass-catcher with the Chiefs adding DeAndre Hopkins and Bills trading for Amari Cooper.
The Baltimore Ravens are another AFC playoff contender that made a move for a wide receiver. They acquired Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh could still have interest in another wide receiver, but there may be less urgency to do so because of how that group has played in two starts with Russell Wilson at quarterback. George Pickens has nine catches for 185 yards and a touchdown in his last two games.
Van Jefferson had a season-high 62 yards in Monday’s win over the New York Giants. Calvin Austin has 90 yards on four catches since Week 7.
It could be argued that trading Kupp is still a sensible move for the Rams. He is 31 and only has $5 million in guaranteed money next season on a contract that runs through 2026.
Injuries have been a significant problem for Kupp since his triple-crown season and Super Bowl MVP win during the 2021 campaign. He played a total of 21 games between 2022 and 2023 and missed four games this season due to a sprained ankle.
The Rams were decimated by injuries early this season. In addition to Kupp, they were without Puka Nacua for five games.
Going into their Week 6 bye, the Rams were 1-4 and seemed poised for another lost season. They have rebounded with back-to-back wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings.
Even though the Rams are still under .500, the other three teams in the NFC West are all 4-4 going into Week 9. They have a win over the San Francisco 49ers and will play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday with a chance to move into first place in the division.
Kupp had five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ 30-20 victory over the Vikings. He has 198 yards and two touchdowns in three games this season.
