Kupp informed Rams seeking to trade him

[Psycho_X]

Wonder what Stafford's opinion is on this news?

 

[OldSchool]

Ok I get your reasoning.

It is an assumption they'll be able to trade him before the league year starts. I was assuming they would because of the report that trading him prior to the bonus was a high priority for them. They may take less draft compensation to facilitate that.

Yeah it's all about when they trade him and of course if the new team pays that bonus we get even less than maybe a 5th. The league year begins March 12 so they have 3 days to trade him while free agency is going. It is all going to depend on possible targets and if they're able to get somebody they'd rather have in free agency, though there aren't a lot of good WR available imo.

 

[OldSchool]

Wonder what Stafford's opinion is on this news?

Tweet him? We haven't seen anything the only response I've seen is Whitworth.


View: https://x.com/AndrewWhitworth/status/1886574914921984259

 

[OldSchool]

View: https://x.com/AsapPuka/status/1886572526459113710

 

[0311rams]

If kupp was open Staff would have gotten him the ball more then he did. He was never going to get anymore open. May be A different scheme and a healthy year might help him play some great ball, just not for us. Kupp is a legend but In the end the injuries slowed him down. Thanks Cooper.

 

[RamBall]

I dont like the thought of Kupp being traded. I hope the Rams dont take a shit trade just to dump his salary. I just dont see any team giving up a 2nd rounder or multiple picks and taking on his salary. Hopefully the Rams will holdout for proper compensation and Kupp stays in LA.

The more I think about it I dont think the Rams get anything of value in return. Maybe the team is just showing him the market and that he would be better off restructuring.

 

[DzRams]

Yeah it's all about when they trade him and of course if the new team pays that bonus we get even less than maybe a 5th. The league year begins March 12 so they have 3 days to trade him while free agency is going. It is all going to depend on possible targets and if they're able to get somebody they'd rather have in free agency, though there aren't a lot of good WR available imo.

Kupp's statement used the word "immediately" when describing the Rams efforts to move him.

Given that phrase and the Rams historical aggressive posture of moving quickly when they make a decision, I expect them to sort this out within the next 2 weeks. Maybe even within a week lol.

I suspect they want Stafford and Kupp's statuses sorted out so they can plan how aggressive they can be in free agency.

 

[OldSchool]

Kupp's statement used the word "immediately" when describing the Rams efforts to move him.

Given that phrase and the Rams historical aggressive posture of moving quickly when they make a decision, I expect them to sort this out within the next 2 weeks. Maybe even within a week lol.

I suspect they want Stafford and Kupp's statuses sorted out so they can plan how aggressive they can be in free agency.

Yeah I get that it just takes two to tango as they say.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Restructures of his contract.

Still seemed like not a good idea since he's getting so old.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Welcome to the nfl.

.

Most NFL teams would've structured that contract to be able to cut him before getting to this point.

 

[OldSchool]

Most NFL teams would've structured that contract to be able to cut him before getting to this point.

huh? They can cut him right now and save money on the cap.

 

[DzRams]

Yeah I get that it just takes two to tango as they say.

Fair point. The question I have is, if they can't find a trade partner quickly, do they cut him or bring him back?

I'm leaning towards cutting in that scenario because how do you walk back obviously trying to trade the player?

 

[Memento]

So.. does this increase the chances of them getting Tee Higgins? Or Darius Slayton?

The absolutely, positively need to add a couple of targets.

It's more likely that they'll double dip in the draft and possibly re-sign one of Robinson or Johnson.

 

[Memento]

I'm sure that would be a positive outcome for many, lol.

But.. no... in honor of the best season any Wide Receiver has had in NFL history... Imma keep it.

That's very much fair. We cheer for these players, even though we're Rams fans first and foremost. People have Isaac, Torry, and Deacon on their usernames, and they didn't play their entire careers here. Feel free to keep the pic and username; it's a good tribute.

 

[Zodi]

If kupp was open Staff would have gotten him the ball more then he did. He was never going to get anymore open.

This is just unequivocally false. Throughout the last few weeks of the season, I posted several examples of Stafford either locking onto Puka or risking a throw to another receiver when Kupp was wide open.

Kupp will go for 1300yds and 10 TDs this year. Bookmark it.

 

[OntarioRam]

My assumption has been that he aggravated an injury and played through it. But it's possible he lost a step. Why am I assuming injury? He started the season with a 14 catch, 110 yard, and 1 TD effort against Detroit. He got hurt in Week 2. He came back in Week 7 and put up 37 receptions for 401 yards and 4 TDs over the next 5 games. And then he basically did nothing from the New Orleans game forward, except for a good performance against Buffalo and a solid game against the Eagles.

It's just weird that he'd go from putting up great production to being invisible over night. That's why I'm assuming he aggravated something, which sapped his explosiveness. But maybe age and wear and tear just caught up with him.

Exactly what I have said countless times. Go look at his tape pretty much up until December. The dude can still ball. I don't buy that age hits you that hard, quite literally, overnight.

This hurts. I assume it means he was unwilling to re-structure his contract. Because when fully healthy, he is still a great weapon, albeit overpaid - but he also blocks very well, is a great mentor which also has value (just as Puka, who credits him tremendously), and he really should have retired a Ram. If he was willing to make the money work, I really don't know why the Rams wouldn't do it. He is still a very viable NFL WR. When fully healthy, still borderline WR1 material for my money based on what I saw early this year. The problem is he has always been injury prone, and it seems to be getting worse with age, with increasing trouble playing through effectively. You cannot pay a guy what Kupp makes, to play 2/3 of the season, and for half of those games, effectively needing to roster plan for him being a JAG because he's dinged up.

If he didn't want to re-structure I don't mind ripping the band-aide off. We are on the cusp. We cannot waste precious cap space. Trading him frees up about 10M I think? That can tangibly improve a roster that is very close.

If he was willing to re-structure, I'd have much preferred that, maybe even with some load management if necessary on a contract where that makes more sense, and seeing him retire a Ram. He has at least a few years left in the tank of being a big net positive.

 

[OldSchool]

Fair point. The question I have is, if they can't find a trade partner quickly, do they cut him or bring him back?

I'm leaning towards cutting in that scenario because how do you walk back obviously trying to trade the player?

I'm thinking if the end goal is to save money and they can't get a trade partner he's cut. Just thinking in the cap saving sense there and nothing else.

 

[Tumak61]

Kupp wants to stay buy doesn't want to take a pay cut in line with his current ability. He's a WR, not a QB.

 

[Jacobarch]

Rams made him an offer and he refused it. It's really that simple. As others have said this is the best move for the Rams. If kupp would have accepted their offer he'd probably still be in horns. I doubt the rams FO goes into this type of meeting with a future HOF WR and not already have a trade worked out with another franchise. Hence the word "immediately"

Im definitely gonna miss Kupp. My dog is named after him and my son has a little Kupp jersey. But I knew this day would eventually come. Whether it be retiring or retiring on another team he'll always be a ram and we got the pleasure of watching him in his prime. Be proud.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Nothing feels good about this but it's an opportunity for Whittington to claim the slot role. Will be curious if he can improve on a limited showing last year.

There's a world where Rams focus on positions at pass catcher outside of slot because of him.