New England Patriots - NESN.com
The Los Angeles Rams want to do right by Cooper Kupp as they look to trade the veteran wide receiver.
Kupp revealed Monday on social media that the Rams informed him they will look to trade the 2021 Super Bowl MVP this offseason “to the right place to continue competing for championships.”
Perhaps that place is the New England Patriots, who are in desperate need of a productive, veteran wide receiver.
But the Rams wanting to take care of Kupp in this difficult situation might actually prove to be an obstacle for the Patriots trying to obtain him. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday the Rams could eat some of Kupp’s contract by “potentially paying down the $7.5 million signing bonus” due to Kupp.
If the Rams end up doing that, they would be “easing the burden” for a team to acquire Kupp, who has a $12.5 million base salary for 2025, and make trading for him “a little easier,” according to Rapoport.
That spells bad news for the Patriots as the Rams swallowing some of Kupp’s contract makes him a more attractive trade target for teams across the league. That will only bring more competition for New England to have to beat out in an attempted pursuit of the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year.
The Patriots saw multiple wideouts in recent years reject coming to New England. Calvin Ridley did so last offseason as did Brandon Aiyuk. DeAndre Hopkins went to the Tennessee Titans instead of joining the Patriots in 2023.
Kupp, who tallied 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns this past season, may be added to that list unless the Patriots can give the Rams a sweet trade package and convince him, with the help of a former college teammate, that he can flourish with New England.
