I would recommend ROD posters watch and listen to McVay’s Q&A with the media earlier today. It’s available on the Rams’ team site.
Unfortunately, it seems like the decision has been made on Kupp. Personally, I wish I understood it better. Aside from the significant intangibles Kupp still provides, I simply don’t see enough 2025 cap relief from moving on this offseason (next offseason … yes, absolutely).
@OldSchool is correct... we get attached to players and they all leave eventually. I never thought I'd get over Aaron Donald retiring. I thought he was too young and the team was trending up. It sucks but I got over it.
But the Rams must believe Cooper Kupp's play has declined. Other than that, there is no reason to jettison him. I am excited about Jordan Whittington's progress this year, but I also believe the Rams will draft a wide receiver fairly early. They are thin at WR (at the moment) and hopefully they will "knock it out of the park" when they draft like they did with Kupp and Nacua.
And I agree with @Allen2McVays point about not seeing enough cap relief to "move on" this year. It doesn't make any sense to me when they can keep him for another year, get some value out of his contract, and then cut him next year. The cap hits don't really change that much whether Kupp stays or goes... correct? The team is paying him whether he is on the team or not. But they did it with Gurley and Goff and everyone else so they must have believed that Kupp's play has declined.
Of course all of this goes out the window if the Rams can work a trade. Then the contract will get negotiated (or split) as well. But if no team trades for him, the Rams will be forced to cut him. I guess that is why we might only get a 6th or 7th-round pick in a trade. Tough position to be in.