FEATURE Cooper Kupp Released

[ottoman89]

Cooper Kupp will have earned over $100mil in his career when it's all said and done.. 1 gigantic season, and only 1 other 1,000 yard season in 8 years.

He averages 13 games played a season and showed considerable drop off towards the end of the season.

I love Kupp, but unless he took a MASSIVE paycut and was moved to #3 WR, it's the right move.

Yes, his leadership, love from teammates and him as a human is worth a lot but as a on field performer, it's the right move.

 

[OldSchool]

You cold hearted bastard!

Seriously though, there are exceptions. In my 56 years of being a diehard Rams’ fan, there are less than ten on my list; and Cooper Kupp is one of them.

The Rams don’t win that Lombardi without him … and Donald, and Stafford.

Now, back to this ‘don’t get attached’ thing … Who hurt you?

Was it @Loyal ?

Name no names

 

[ReekofRams]

I wish you had not said that.
Now he will be just be impossible to live with.

You mean even more impossible to live with don’t you?

 

[brucebruce]

Cooper Kupp will have earned over $100mil in his career when it's all said and done.. 1 gigantic season, and only 1 other 1,000 yard season in 8 years.

He averages 13 games played a season and showed considerable drop off towards the end of the season.

I love Kupp, but unless he took a MASSIVE paycut and was moved to #3 WR, it's the right move.

Yes, his leadership, love from teammates and him as a human is worth a lot but as a on field performer, it's the right move.

How can he agree to a massive pay cut?

 

[Memphis Ram]

Injuries and age aside, early in his career with the Rams, Kupp was a major matchup problem in the slot.

He's still a good WR, but he is no longer that matchup problem and thus not worth the huge contract.

 

[Psycho_X]

View: https://x.com/SamHoppen/status/1896601223459123258

 

[Allen2McVay]

He's still a good WR, but he is no longer that matchup problem and thus not worth the huge contract.

Unfortunately, much of that 'huge contract' will be on the Rams' 2025 cap regardless of whether he is traded or released.

 

[Flatlyner]

How can he agree to a massive pay cut?

Yeah, not sure he can. I don't think the NFLPA allows you to do this. You'd need cut first, I think.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Unfortunately, much of that 'huge contract' will be on the Rams' 2025 cap regardless of whether he is traded or released.

True but it's gone in 2026 and the Rams must believe they can upgrade his spot in 2025.

 

[Allen2McVay]

True but it's gone in 2026 and the Rams must believe that can upgrade his spot in 2025.

If they released him one year from today, they would have $20M of cap relief, with only $7.5M of Dead-$.

If they release him now, the savings is a mere $7.5M, with over $22M of Dead-$.

As for an 'up-grade at his spot', that seems optimistic with just one pick in the top-90, and limited cap space.

 

[Faceplant]

If they released him one year from today, they would have $20M of cap relief, with only $7.5M of Dead-$.

If they release him now, the savings is a mere $7.5M, with over $22M of Dead-$.

As for an 'up-grade at his spot', that seems optimistic with just one pick in the top-90, and limited cap space.

Yeah, that just doesn't add up to me either. Smarter people than me are doing the math for the Rams on this, so hopefully it makes sense to THEM.

 

[Faceplant]

If they released him one year from today, they would have $20M of cap relief, with only $7.5M of Dead-$.

If they release him now, the savings is a mere $7.5M, with over $22M of Dead-$.

As for an 'up-grade at his spot', that seems optimistic with just one pick in the top-90, and limited cap space.

Yeah, that just doesn't add up to me either. People smarter than me are doing the math for the Rams on this, so hopefully it makes sense to THEM.

 

[Memphis Ram]

If they released him one year from today, they would have $20M of cap relief, with only $7.5M of Dead-$.

If they release him now, the savings is a mere $7.5M, with over $22M of Dead-$.

As for an 'up-grade at his spot', that seems optimistic with just one pick in the top-90, and limited cap space.

Won't those figures change if he's traded? Either way $7.5 million this year isn't anything to sneeze at as some of those funds can now go towards the more important left tackle they weren't paying as much last year..

And yes, this is a very deep TE draft class where the Rams could pick up someone to handle his slot role in the offense at #90 or even later.

If McVay goes back to his roots, the only reason a receiving TE isn't manning the slot for the Rams now is because Kupp proved to be so good there. But, that isn't the case anymore.

 

[PhillyRam]

Yeah, that just doesn't add up to me either. People smarter than me are doing the math for the Rams on this, so hopefully it makes sense to THEM.

Essentially, cutting him now saves $15M of cap space over 2 years. Keeping him this year and cutting him next year saves them only $7.5M in savings and that all comes next year.

 

[ottoman89]

How can he agree to a massive pay cut?

Rip the contract up and do a new one.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Won't those figures change if he's traded? Either way $7.5 million this year isn't anything to sneeze at as some of those funds can now go towards the more important left tackle they weren't paying as much last year.

Yes ... per the draft sites, the cap relief, with a trade could be $12.5M but that's still $17.5M of Dead-$. However, if the Rams eat some of Kupp's comp (reported), the savings go down and the Dead-$ goes up.

And yes, this is a very deep TE draft class where the Rams could pick up someone to handle his slot role in the offense at #90 or even later.

If McVay goes back to his roots, the only reason a receiving TE isn't manning the slot for the Rams now is because Kupp proved to be so good there. But, that isn't the case anymore.

Rams have plenty of other needs ... CB, interior D-Line, off-ball-LB and WR ... and I don't know a late 3rd round rookie can replace a diminished Kupp's production and intangibles.

Hey, I hope your optimism turns-out to be dead-on.

 

[Antonius]

Eric Dickerson is the one that ruined me. After him I can live with the rest.

As a 90’s kid that became a fan because of the ‘99 season, moving on from Kurt was the move that affected me

it’s nothing personal with players. Most all move on or get moved.

 

[Allen2McVay]

It’s nothing personal with players. Most all move on or get moved.

Yes but the circumstances vary; and sometimes, it seems less necessary ... Isaac Bruce comes to mind.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Rams have plenty of other needs ... CB, interior D-Line, off-ball-LB and WR ... and I don't know a late 3rd round rookie can replace a diminished Kupp's production and intangibles.

Hey, I hope your optimism turns-out to be dead-on.

Rams have other draft selections and free agency to help fill those needs. Intangibles? Not sure. Production? I like their chances. Shoot a 5th rounder in Puka Nacua basically replaced his production.

When I heard announcers who speak to the team during the week prior to game day say that they were told that Demarcus Robinson was the best vs. man coverage on the team I knew a change was due.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Rams have other draft selections and free agency to help fill those needs. Intangibles? Not sure. Production? I like their chances. Shoot a 5th rounder in Puka Nacua basically replaced his production.

When I heard announcers who speak to the team during the week prior to game day say that they were told that Demarcus Robinson was the best vs. man coverage on the team I knew a change was due.

Demarcus Robinson did absolutely nothing when both Kupp and puka were out injured. He's the wr3 at best. He can't replace Kupp.

Unless you mean Kupp has deteriorated so much that drob is now better than him against man, then i get what you're saying.

.