The Rams could trade a disgruntled star after the playoffs

The Los Angeles Rams reportedly tried to trade Cooper Kupp after their 1-4 start, and the team could continue those talks once their playoff run ends. A third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Kupp and quarterback Matthew Stafford appeared to be a match made in heaven during their first year together. Kupp dominated the league in 2021, finishing the season with 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns en route to their Super Bowl victory.

Amazingly, this was the last time Kupp eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. Thanks to injuries and the breakout of former fifth-round pick Puka Nacua, Kupp has become something of an afterthought on offense. During a recent interviewKupp said he uses “prayer and meditation” to accept his reduced role, adding that “there is something wrong” with his use.

Despite making the playoffs, Cooper Kupp is unhappy with the Rams and wants to welcome back. Set to carry a $29.78 million cap hit next year, the Rams can save up to $20 million by sending him to a team like the Los Angeles Chargers or Kansas City Chiefs.

Rams could trade Cooper Kupp to Chargers, Chiefs after season

The Los Angeles Chargers Wild Card loss showed how desperate this team is for another wide receiver. While quarterback Justin Herbert wasn’t playing his best football, the pass catchers apparently went out of their way to make his life miserable. Second-round pick Ladd McConkey had a great game, but every other receiver actively sabotaged the offense with drops, poor route running and generally lackluster play. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said the same, saying Herbert doesn’t deserve the blame for the disappointing loss.

McConkey will be a fixture in the Chargers offense for years to come, but they need to find another reliable set of hands. If they can’t sign a free agent like Chris Godwin or Tee Higgins, the Chargers could pivot and trade for Cooper Kupp. Kupp and McConkey can both move around the formation, and a coach like Harbaugh should know how to get the most out of these two. It may not be the most exciting duo, but it is significantly better than what the team currently has.

More help for mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs enter the postseason with three reliable wide receivers in Marquise Brown, DeAndre Hopkins and first-round pick Xavier Worthy. Those three make for a reliable trio, but some of them may not return in 2025. Even if Worthy isn’t going anywhere, Hopkins and Brown are free agents and could leave for bigger contracts. Rashee Rice, injured in the second round, meanwhile, will likely miss a significant portion of the 2025 season while serving a suspension for his offseason car accident.

Mahomes is a phenomenal quarterback, but no one can single-handedly power teams to a championship. With Travis Kelce possibly retiring, Mahomes needs a proven veteran who can handle a high target share. Cooper Kupp may never recapture his dominant 2021, but the trade candidate should fit right in with Andy Reid’s offense. Mahomes spent the early part of the year beating defenses with short and intermediate passes, and Kupp could easily eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in that environment.

Main photo: Joseph Rondone – USA Today Sports