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Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the top storylines from Week 7 in the NFL.
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The NFL has already seen a couple of big-name wide receivers dealt ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. Davante Adams and Amari Cooper have joined new teams. Could fans soon see another player traded?
Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp has been the subject of trade rumors ahead of his team’s Week 8 game against the Minnesota Vikings. The veteran wide-out is on track to return from an ankle injury that had kept him out since Week 2, and that could help him establish himself as a top trade target with just a couple of weeks left until the trade deadline.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Mike Silver, and Jourdan Rodrigue, the Rams have called “multiple teams” about a potential Kupp trade. The Rams hope to acquire a second-round pick for Kupp in the deal and have also expressed a willingness to absorb some of the 2024 salary remaining on his contract to facilitate a deal.
Kupp would likely draw heavy interest on the NFL trade market, especially with numerous big-name receivers suffering season-ending injuries in recent weeks.
Which contenders could most use Kupp’s services? Here are nine of the best and most plausible landing spots for the 31-year-old receiver should the Rams decide to part with him after their 2-4 start to the 2024 NFL season.
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The Chiefs stand out as an obvious candidate for Kupp. They lost Rashee Rice to a season-ending knee injury and have also been without Hollywood Brown (shoulder). Veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is also currently injured. Kupp would provide Patrick Mahomes with a great, consistent target from the slot, a position the quarterback loves throwing, and bolster the undefeated Chiefs’ chances of pulling off an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat.
Mike Tomlin has led the Steelers to a 5-2 record through seven games, and it seems like Pittsburgh will have a legitimate chance to challenge for the AFC North title. That said, the Steelers could use an upgrade over Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III as their Nos. 2 and 3 receivers, respectively. That’s one of the reasons they were involved in the Brandon Aiyuk trade discussions during the offseason, though nothing ever came of them.
Kupp’s separation ability complements George Pickens‘ contested catch prowess well. That duo could be a formidable one-two punch for Russell Wilson. Consider it a less speedy but more physical combination of the DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett combination that Wilson so effectively utilized during his time with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Steelers aren’t the only AFC North team that might look to upgrade its receiver room. The Ravens have gotten terrific production out of Zay Flowers in his second season, but their receiving options beyond him have been streaky.
Kupp would provide a steady presence in the middle of the field and help open things up for Baltimore’s formidable tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. That could help the Ravens get over the hump and make it back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2013.
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The Lions’ receiving corps has been better than expected in 2024, thanks to the emergence of Jameson Williams and the preseason acquisition of Tim Patrick, so they don’t necessarily need to trade for Kupp.
However, if Detroit wants to go all-in, Kupp would immediately have chemistry with Jared Goff. The two spent four years together with the Rams before Goff was sent to Detroit in the Matthew Stafford trade, so it wouldn’t take long for him to become one of Goff’s favorite middle-of-the-field security blankets.
For those wondering whether Kupp would overlap too much with Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s skill set, it’s worth noting that St. Brown has played 178 snaps out wide this season, good for 52.5 percent of his snaps at receiver, per PFF. Comparatively, Kupp has played the slot 75.2 percent of the time, so Ben Johnson could find a way to move both around and put them in positions of strength.
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The Commanders may be among the teams best positioned to trade for Kupp if they so desire. Washington is 5-2, has star quarterback Jayden Daniels on a cost-controlled rookie deal, and nearly $25 million in cap space for the 2024 NFL season, per OverTheCap.com.
Washington general manager Adam Peters spent seven years in the San Francisco 49ers‘ front office. The 49ers were among the most aggressive teams in the NFL ahead of the trade deadline during his three-year reign as assistant GM, so don’t be surprised if the Commanders make a push for Kupp. That would give Daniels a great duo of receivers with Kupp and Terry McLaurin.
The Buccaneers lost Chris Godwin for the season because of a dislocated ankle. Their other top receiver, Mike Evans, is dealing with a hamstring strain that will keep him out indefinitely. Baker Mayfield needs some help to keep Tampa Bay’s offense afloat, so Jason Licht may be tempted to swing a deal to acquire Kupp, who could help replace Godwin, a 2025 free agent, this season and beyond.
Like the Buccaneers, the Falcons are 4-3, hoping to win the NFC South. They may not need a receiving weapon quite as much as their divisional rival, but Kupp would be a massive upgrade over Ray-Ray McCloud as Atlanta’s top slot option.
Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is familiar with Kupp from their five years with the Rams. That would allow Kupp to seamlessly transition into Atlanta’s offense, which could be enough to convince Falcons owner Arthur Blank, 82, to allow general manager Terry Fontenot to splurge for another skill position player.
Could the Cowboys use Kupp? Surely. They lack a proven No. 2 receiver across from CeeDee Lamb, and the duo’s ability to play inside and outside would give Dallas’ passing attack some versatility.
But will the Cowboys really be interested in Kupp? That is less certain, given Jerry Jones’ consistent griping about Dallas’ inability to afford key free agents during the 2024 offseason. Perhaps Jones would be willing to surrender a high-end pick for the receiver if they can get the Rams to eat a good chunk of Kupp’s deal.
It’s more likely the Cowboys will bow out of the sweepstakes when things start to heat up.
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OK, here’s one more fun one. Can you imagine the Vikings’ offense with Kupp, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison? That would give Minnesota the firepower needed to make a Super Bowl run, provided Sam Darnold can stay healthy.
Of course, the Vikings have already made Jefferson the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, so they may not want to get another high-cost veteran at the position. At the same time, Darnold only costs the team $10 million for the 2024 season, so they may be able to make the room to take on Kupp short-term. Kevin O’Connell has also worked with Kupp in Los Angeles, so if their connection is strong enough, Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah may be willing to target Kupp.
