Analysis

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, it's a three-year deal for Kupp, who spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Rams. Kupp will join a receiving corps that moved on from DK Metcalf (traded to the Steelers) and Tyler Lockett (released) this offseason, meaning he'll be working with third-year pro Jaxon Smith-Njigba and veteran vertical threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling in an offense led by new QB Sam Darnold. Since his standout 145-1,947-16 performance on 191 targets in 2021, Kupp hasn't surpassed 75 catches, 812 yards or six touchdowns in any of the ensuing three campaigns while missing 18 regular-season contests during that span.

Analysis

There were contradicting reports earlier Friday about the Cowboys pushing to sign Kupp (or not). It's unclear to what extent he'll prioritize money, winning, scheme fit or other factors, but it's fair to say Seattle will be at a disadvantage if he's inclined to take less money for a shot at the Super Bowl. Dallas would be somewhat more likely in that case, although still far from the best option. That said, it's a tough market for ring-chasing, as the Super Bowl favorites -- KC, PHI, BUF, BAL, etc. -- all appear set at wide receiver and/or signed veterans earlier this week.

Analysis

Schefter referred to the Cowboys as a "sleeper team that has emerged and is now making a push" to sign Kupp, while Moore says "it won't happen" after talking to a person with "knowledge of the club's thinking." We may never know which report was accurate, unless, of course, Kupp ends up signing with the Cowboys. Other reports have suggested a number of teams are interested, which makes sense given the weak free-agent crop of wide receivers. Kupp turns 32 in June and hasn't played more than 12 regular-season games in a year since 2021, but he should at least remain useful as a possession receiver for another year or three.

Analysis

The Rams released Kupp on Wednesday, with subsequent reports suggesting numerous teams are interested in signing him. That's no surprise, considering he mostly remained productive when he wasn't injured last year and now becomes arguably the top WR in an extremely weak free-agent class. On the other hand, he'll turn 32 this summer, missed at least five games each of the past three seasons, and finished 2024 with career lows of 10.6 yards per catch and 7.1 yards per target. There's also the matter of his best fit being the slot, where CeeDee Lamb has done a large portion of his damage in recent years. Granted, that's a better problem than the Cowboys' current problem of not having enough talent alongside Lamb.

Analysis

Unable to find a trade partner, the Rams will instead make Kupp a free agent right at the start of the new league year. He'll likely have plenty of suitors, with Peter Schrager of FOX Sports already reporting that at least three teams are interested in Kupp. He's never averaged less than 57.9 yards per game over the course of a season, but Kupp missed at least five games each of the past three seasons and finished 2024 with career lows for yards per catch (10.6) and yards per target (7.1) over 12 regular-season games. He'll turn 32 years old in June, making it unlikely that his next contract contains any guaranteed money beyond 2025 or 2026.

Analysis

Through eight pro campaigns, Kupp has only two 1,000-yard seasons to his name, but his 146-1,947-16 line on 191 targets from 2021 will serve as one of the greatest years for a wide receiver in NFL history. Since then, he's missed 18 games while averaging a 67-753-5.7 line on 97.7 targets per season from 2022-24. The arrival of fifth-round pick Puka Nacua in 2023 resulted in a changing of the guard as the top pass catcher in the Rams offense, and Sunday's signing of Davante Adams gives the team an upgrade at No. 2. L.A. has been seeking to trade Kupp since at least early February, but considering his recent returns and age (he turns 32 in June), the Rams haven't garnered any notable interest as of yet. In any case, clarity on his situation figures to arrive in the near future.

Analysis

There was some thought Kupp and Matthew Stafford would both be traded/released and move on to the same team. Stafford instead signed a new contract, but that apparently doesn't mean Kupp will do the same, as the Rams are hoping to free up cap space and may envision Jordan Whittington quickly becoming an effective replacement in the slot. Kupp will turn 32 in June and has two years remaining on his contract, with the remaining non-guaranteed money consisting of a $12.5 million base salary in 2025, a $14.85 million base salary in 2026 and a $5 million roster bonus in 2026. Given his age and recent injury troubles, Kupp is unlikely to attract much trade interest without a pay cut, which means he'd probably be better off if the Rams simply released him before the start of the new league year and allowed him to hit the open market at a time when numerous teams have a need at his position as well as plenty of cap space. If a trade happens instead, it'll likely be for a late draft pick.

Analysis

"I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships," Kupp wrote Monday. "I don't agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA." He said after the Rams' divisional-round loss to the Eagles that he planned to continue his playing career, but it always felt like it was headed this direction, with the Rams and Kupp parting ways. Kupp turns 32 years old in June and is coming off an extremely slow finish to the 2024 season, one in which he was clearly overtaken as the Rams' WR1 by Puka Nacua. Kupp has two years left on his current contract, one that is set to pay him $12.5 million and $14.85 million salaries the next two seasons. It may be a difficult contract to move, but the acquiring team would likely look to restructure Kupp's deal. The Rams may envision Jordan Whittington as Kupp's much cheaper replacement out of the slot.

Analysis

"I feel like I've got a lot of good football left in me," Kupp said. "I'll be playing football next year. That much I know. ... I don't have any clarity on what that's going to look like or anything like that. So yeah, obviously would love to be in L.A., but I don't know what that's going to look like." Kupp turns 32 years old in June and is coming off a slow finish to the 2024 season, as he ceded the clear WR1 role to Puka Nacua. Kupp is under contract through 2026, but the Rams could opt to cut him before a $5 million roster bonus is due in March. Designating Kupp as a post-June 1 cut would clear $15 million in cap space and leave behind $14.78 million in dead money. If he's not designated as a post-June 1 cut, the Rams would eat $22.26 million in dead cap hit, clearing just $7.52 million. In pure cash terms, releasing Kupp saves Los Angeles $15 million. If the Rams opt to move on from Kupp, Jordan Whittington makes for a natural in-house replacement out of the slot.