Pats Pulpit
The Rams intend on trading the star wide receiver this offseason.
It is no secret that upgrading the supporting cast around quarterback Drake Maye is the New England Patriots’ biggest offseason priority. There are many ways to accomplish that goal, including bolstering his receiving corps through trade.
Among the players expected to be available is veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp. The former Super Bowl MVP is coming off a comparatively unproductive career by his standards, but he still hauled in 67 catches for 710 and 6 touchdowns in 2024 — numbers that would have made him New England’s top pass catcher in all three categories last year.
So, should Mike Vrabel and company make a call in hopes of bringing the 31-year-old aboard from the Los Angeles Rams? There are arguments in both directions.
Raising the floor: Make no mistake, Cooper Kupp in 2025 is not the same player he was four years ago when he won the NFL triple crown, was named Offensive Player of the Year, and played a pivotal role in the Rams winning the Super Bowl. That being said, he can still be a productive player who would be of some use for a New England team trying to develop its offense around Drake Maye. At the very least, adding him to the mix would raise the floor of a receiving corps currently headlined by the likes of Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk — all players who struggled with consistency in 2024.
Addressing a need: Given the current composition of the Patriots’ wide receiver group it is no surprise that the position sits near the top of the team’ offseason needs. Adding Kupp to the mix would not be the only solution nor give the team a true difference maker, but he would bring proven production and immediately make the team less reliable on the likes of Boutte, Bourne, Douglas or Polk (which in turn might end up helping those players).
Leadership: At the moment, Kendrick Bourne — a college teammate of Kupp’s at Easter Washington — is the most experienced member of the Patriots’ wide receiver room. The rest consists entirely of players entering either their second or third year in the NFL. Kupp, like Bourne, is headed for Year 9 and a potential role model and mentor for the rest of the group. He was voted a team captain five times during his time with the Rams, and the leadership he would be able to provide would be an underrated asset for a bridge receiver.
Roster building approach: We mentioned it in our recent assessment of a potential Myles Garrett trade, but New England has adopted a “draft and develop” strategy under de facto general manager Eliot Wolf. While incoming head coach Mike Vrabel might have a different opinion on the matter, the importance of adding players through the...
