There has been some big trade news out of the NFL this week. First, it was Myles Garrett who requested a trade.
Next, Cooper Kupp made a social media post about how the Rams will be trading him this offseason. Surprisingly, the veteran has only made one Pro Bowl in his eight-year career, which was in 2021, when he went off for an incredible 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.
He’s eclipsed 1,000 yards just twice in his injury-plagued career. Kupp will be 32 years old by the time the 2025 season kicks off, so his best days seem to be behind him.
We identified why Garrett could be a fit in Los Angeles, so can the same thing be said for Kupp? Well, let’s identify some reasons why it could work out.
Chargers need a wide receiver badly
It’s the most significant offseason need for the Chargers, evident throughout the 2024 season. Time and time again, Ladd McConkey was the only guy who could get open for Justin Herbert.
Kupp is among the best in the NFL in finding the soft spot in his opponents’ coverage. Health is a concern, as he’s played in 33 games over the last three years. That said, when he’s on the field, Kupp is a massive upgrade over anything the Chargers have right now other than McConkey.
Kupp won’t cost much in terms of assets
As aforementioned, Kupp is set to turn 32 years old, and he isn’t the 2021 version of himself. With cap hits of $27+ million each of the next two years, it’s hard to imagine that the Rams will get anything significant in return.
This gives the Chargers a potential low-risk, high-reward trade. With just two years left on his contract, they have little downside to acquiring Kupp. The Chargers can afford him, too, as they have the sixth-most cap space entering this offseason.
Locker room presence
On top of the on-field play, Kupp brings veteran leadership to the locker room. The Chargers have a solid locker room with Jim Harbaugh leading the squad, but you can never have too many veteran leaders.
Kupp has won a Super Bowl, so he knows what it takes to get the job done. He would be a perfect mentor for McConkey, who is set to enter his second NFL season in 2025.
It would be interesting to see how Kupp and McConkey fit together in the same offense. Both of them spend the majority of their snaps in the slot, so one of them would have to revert to the outside.
According to DraftKings, the Chargers are tied for third (+600) in terms of odds for Kupp’s next landing spot. This is a move that the Bolts should at least have discussions on this offseason.
