Former All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp is on the trading block and one analyst believes that the Jacksonville Jaguars would be a good landing spot for him.
NFL.com recently had six of their analysts answer this question: what is the best trade destination for Cooper Kupp?
And perhaps not surprisingly, Maurice Jones-Drew mentioned the Jaguars.
“There’s a chance the team moves on from Christian Kirk. Kupp would be a great replacement in the slot working alongside Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis,” wrote Jones-Drew. “Plus, Kupp’s leadership skills will undoubtedly help build the culture under the new regime.”
During the Rams’ Super Bowl season in 2021, Kupp was an All-Pro that year, hauling in 145 receptions for 1,947 yards at 16 touchdowns–all of which led the NFL.
The last three years, however, Kupp has navigated injuries, playing in 33 out of a possible 51 games. But he’s remained highly effective.
In just nine games in 2022, Kupp had 812 receiving yards. In 2023, playing in 12 games, he had 737 yards, and in 12 games this past year, Kupp had 710 receiving yards.
As Jones-Drew mention, with Kupp primarily playing from the slot, the team would almost certainly have to move on from Christian Kirk in order make things less congested.
Of note, if the Jaguars were to move on from Kirk this offseason, the would create an additional $10.43 million in cap space. Kirk has also dealt with injuries the last two seasons, playing in 20 out of a possible 34 games.
Head coach Liam Coen’s two previous stints with the LA Rams overlapped with Kupp’s tenure with the team, and worth mentioning, while we don’t know what the Rams are looking for in return, the Jaguars are in good shape with 10 draft picks this year.
At the top of the to-do list for Coen as he takes over as the Jaguars’ head coach is getting Trevor Lawrence and the passing game back on track.
“How do we make Trevor Lawrence and this offense as dynamic and explosive as we can be? We’ve got to build it around him, we’ve got to make every part of this about improvement, and he will be a part of that process,” Coen said during his introductory press conference.
“He’s earned that right. I cannot respect his toughness and mentality and work ethic more than I do already from afar. This will all be about Trevor.”
