The Los Angeles Chargers‘ disappointing Wild Card round loss to the Houston Texans underscored the urgent need to bolster their receiving corps. This defeat, a stark reminder of the team’s offensive limitations, has intensified the focus on acquiring more talent at the wide receiver position.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp has expressed a strong desire to continue his NFL career, but he left the door open as far as his future with the Rams.
“Who knows what is going to happen? A lot of stuff is out of my control,” he stated, as reported by The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue. “We’ll see (what) it’s going to be. There was obviously stuff that was going on early in the season and we’ll see. I don’t have any clarity on what that’s gonna look like. Obviously would love to be in L.A. but I don’t know what that is gonna look like.”
Los Angeles Chargers Named Top Landing Spot For Cooper Kupp
According to Bleacher Report, Kupp could both leave the Rams and stay in LA;
“Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman could feature Kupp in the passing game along with rookie Ladd McConkey. Roman could also use the veteran wideout as a blocker for his run-heavy offenses,” writes BR’s Maurice Moton.
“Over the past two years, Kupp took a backseat to fellow wideout Puka Nacua, who has emerged as the Rams’ lead wide receiver,” BR continues. “To his credit, he’s been a willing participant in head coach Sean McVay’s blocking schemes. With the Chargers, Kupp could see more targets because of the team’s lackluster group of pass-catchers and still help seal the edges for the ground game. As a playoff team with $63.1 million in cap space, the Chargers should be open to the idea of acquiring a savvy veteran wideout who can bolster the offense in multiple phases.”
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Despite Kupp’s desire to remain in Los Angeles, his future with the team remains uncertain. According to multiple reports from The Athletic, the Rams actively explored trade options for Kupp prior to the November 5th trade deadline, offering to cover a portion of his 2024 salary.
Releasing Kupp would result in a substantial $22.3 million in dead money, making a trade a more likely scenario. If the Rams decide to move on from Kupp, several teams, including [list of potential trade partners], should be willing to offer at least a third-round draft pick in return for his services.