FEATURE Cooper Kupp Released

[Boston Ram]

Am I the only one who does not think he will be traded? I dont think the Rams will trade Kupp. Only way they move from him is if they can somehow fanagle a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him...which I dont think will ever happen. When its all said and done, Kupp will be a Ram next year. Book it.

 

[brucebruce]

Rip the contract up and do a new one.

Does the NFL CBA allow players to rip up the contract to take less?

 

[Allen2McVay]

Am I the only one who does not think he will be traded? I dont think the Rams will trade Kupp. Only way they move from him is if they can somehow fanagle a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him...which I dont think will ever happen. When its all said and done, Kupp will be a Ram next year. Book it.

Would love to agree with you ... but I can't.

Based on everything I have read and heard, especially McVay's presser yesterday, the Rams are moving-on. Expecting no better than a late-round pick unless the Rams eat some additional $ that increases the already significant Dead-$. Even then, a 4th or 5th would be the best they will get.

Hope I am wrong.

 

[WestCoastRam]

That would be great.
You and Memphis are positive ... glass-is-half-full guys. That's terrific! ... Little Annoying

I don't know about that, I feel like I'm the one poo pooing Kupp. I feel like I've been one of the few people who've been banging the drum on his physical decline beyond the injuries. Feels kinda glass half full there.

It's not that I'm arguing that Whitt is gonna be great, just that his good is better than Kupp being bad. I don't know how rosey that is.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I don't know about that,

Don't do that ... don't sell yourself short ... YOU can be Very Annoying.

 

[Boston Ram]

Would love to agree with you ... but I can't.

Based on everything I have read and heard, especially McVay's presser yesterday, the Rams are moving-on. Expecting no better than a late-round pick unless the Rams eat some additional $ that increases the already significant Dead-$. Even then, a 4th or 5th would be the best they will get.

Hope I am wrong.

I hear ya and dont disagree. Just feels like the longer this goes the more likely he stays. I also dont see the value in getting rid of him. Im sure Im missing something but why trade an asset with no real return.

 

[Memento]

I'd tend to agree. Whittington definitely overachieved for his draft position. And will be on the game day roster every week. But he's not a WR2. If he's our WR3 we probably did not find one in free agency or the draft. I'd still like to see Robinson come back.

I’m a Whittington fan. He did exactly what he was expected to do, injury aside.

He was never the main guy at Texas, and as a former five star prospect, he could’ve left for many different opportunities. He stuck it out with Texas, lost touches to the many running backs, the tight ends, and the receivers. He blocked hard when the others didn’t, and he made the most of his touches.

He’s the ultimate team player, maybe a complimentary #3 at most, but one willing to do everything to help a team win on the football field.

 

[Londoner]

I’m a Whittington fan.

Really? We hadn't noticed.

 

[Memento]

Really? We hadn't noticed.

And the only thing that’s changed is that he’s become a really consistent kick returner since his draft year.

Of course I’m a fan.

 

[Ram Ts]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a combo WR/RB role for Whitt next year. Kind of like how Cordarrelle Patterson was used at times (2021 especially). We had Kupp and others line up in backfield occasionally in the past but I don’t recall them using that at all in 2024.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a combo WR/RB role for Whitt next year. Kind of like how Cordarrelle Patterson was used at times (2021 especially). We had Kupp and others line up in backfield occasionally in the past but I don’t recall them using that at all in 2024.

I think we'll see similarities to how Deebo has been used in the past and how Puka was used in 2023, he had some routes plays where he motioned into the backfield and ran routes from there.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I also don't see the value in getting rid of him. ... why trade an asset with no real return.

A point I have made a dozen times in recent weeks.

 

[Memphis Ram]

It was a really detailed post, with videos and stats.

You did have the Rams using two of their top picks on an Edge and DL ... but they combined for Zero sacks.

Actually you are mistaken. The 2024 final mock wasn't detailed at all as I just put something together real quick to follow others. It you want to relook it's just names and youtube videos unlike my others. Not sure if the Edge and DL were active for many games.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I hear ya and dont disagree. Just feels like the longer this goes the more likely he stays. I also dont see the value in getting rid of him. Im sure Im missing something but why trade an asset with no real return.

Injury history (Also possible the medical staff doesn't like future)
Contract.
No longer being the matchup problem he used to be.

 

[ottoman89]

Does the NFL CBA allow players to rip up the contract to take less?

I thought we did that a few years ago?

 

[dieterbrock]

I hear ya and dont disagree. Just feels like the longer this goes the more likely he stays. I also dont see the value in getting rid of him. Im sure Im missing something but why trade an asset with no real return.

Unfortunately, I think the longer it goes, the more likely it is that he is just released.
Not only will a team trading for him need to take on 15 mill+ in salary for 2025, he'd be due 20 mill in '26

 

[Flatlyner]

Unfortunately, I think the longer it goes, the more likely it is that he is just released.
Not only will a team trading for him need to take on 15 mill+ in salary for 2025, he'd be due 20 mill in '26

Thats unacceptable. From my understanding, we save more cap releasing him next year. Just keep him this season, if a solid offer happens, I guess take it. But releasing him should not be an option.

 

[AZRams4Life]

Unfortunately, I think the longer it goes, the more likely it is that he is just released.
Not only will a team trading for him need to take on 15 mill+ in salary for 2025, he'd be due 20 mill in '26

That's most likely the sad truth. These emotional ties are some of the hardest ones, especially with such a class act like Kupp. It's been said over and over, but it's still a fact, the actual production (numbers are what they are) even in spite of the non-number based intangibles just do not support his salary and cap hit at this point. It's a rip the band-aid off situation and it's going to be one that hurts, but I believe it's clear that the brass has determined it's time to do so and spread the money out in other areas.

 

[dieterbrock]

Thats unacceptable. From my understanding, we save more cap releasing him next year. Just keep him this season, if a solid offer happens, I guess take it. But releasing him should not be an option.

How can we save more cap next when he costs 30 mill this year? That's kind of a silly statement, no?
His dead cap hit is less, 7.5 mill vs 22 mill, but that is because he costs an additional 22 mill in order to "save" that
Releasing him is absolutely an option if a team isnt willing to take on at least 15 mill of his salary for 2025
It is what it is.
If they cant trade him by mid March, they'll be forced to release him to avoid the additional 2 mill of his roster bonus

 

[snackdaddy]

Am I the only one who does not think he will be traded? I dont think the Rams will trade Kupp. Only way they move from him is if they can somehow fanagle a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him...which I dont think will ever happen. When its all said and done, Kupp will be a Ram next year. Book it.

I don't think he'll be traded either. But I don't think he'll be a Ram next season. If they can't find a trade partner I have a feeling they'll give him his outright release. I believe designating him a post June 1 cut saves cap money and dead money this year. But defers some to next year.