In the wake of the Dallas Mavericks trading away Luka Doncic to the hated Los Angeles Lakers over the weekend, I’m not sure any trade news would shock us.
The Los Angeles Rams tried to do just that on Monday, announcing that they will be actively trying to trade away star WR Cooper Kupp, who has been with the team since 2017.
There are several teams in the league who would welcome the skillset and production that Kupp can bring to the table. Can the Cowboys be one of those teams? Let’s talk about it.
What Are the Rams Thinking?
This is most likely a salary dump for the Rams here, coupled with the fact that Cooper Kupp is no longer the wide receiver who caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns a few short years ago.
Those days are over for Kupp, and even though he is still an above average wide receiver in the NFL, the Rams appear ready to move on with Puka Nacua as their top weapon for a returning Matthew Stafford.
Kupp missed three games in 2024, but even when healthy, he looked a step slower than the player we are used to seeing in the yellow/blue/white #10 jersey.
Since Cooper Kupp won NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors after his stellar 2021 season, he has missed 18 of a possible 51 regular season games in the three years since. That may be where the Rams’ logic lies in trying to trade him.
I imagine a player the caliber of Kupp will help the Rams find a trading partner, but his contract would be the blocker for any team. He is due $29.78 million in 2025 and another $27.33 million in 2026 before hitting restricted free agency in 2027.
The Rams would need to eat some of his salary, or the team trading for him would need to restructure his contract to make his cap hit more palatable.
How Does He Fit With the Cowboys?
For a player like Cooper Kupp, you make him fit. HC Brian Schottenheimer was asked about his offense and personnel, and he said something along the lines that the Cowboys would fit their scheme to the players.
Those are welcome words to my ears. It always baffled me that the Cowboys got this reputation for forcing players to fit their scheme. When it wasn’t working, anybody with eyes could see what was wrong, but not much ever got done about it.
The Cowboys are in desperate need of a premier running mate for WR CeeDee Lamb. He constantly attracts double-teams because there is nobody else on the field who can threaten the defense.
Adding a player like Kupp to the offense would open up a part of the playbook that Schottenheimer and new OC Klayton Adams currently have sealed.
Kupp, like Lamb, is one of the most lethal players out of the slot. Imagine the Cowboys spreading out the defense with four wide receivers and both CeeDee and Kupp lining up in the slot.
Linebackers and safeties wouldn’t know what to do.
Would the Cowboys Actually Pull the Trigger?
The million dollar question is, would the Cowboys actually make the move and pull the trigger for a player like Cooper Kupp?
Personally, I’m not getting my hopes up, but there is always the possibility that the Cowboys are genuine in their comments about making a change because the way they’ve been doing things hasn’t been working.
From a financial standpoint, it doesn’t make much sense for the Cowboys to have another wide receiver getting paid over $27 million per season. Not because I don’t think they could make the salary cap work, but because of Kupp’s recent track record.
He’s missed 1/3 of the games over the past three seasons, and is on the wrong side of 30. It’s just not a move I can see the Cowboys making unless the salary is greatly reduced, and they don’t have to spend more than a 4th round pick in exchange.
However, investing in a player who is near to over the hill and his best production is behind him is something the Cowboys have done before. Maybe they surprise us.
Jerry making a move for a Star player ? Nooo, he may have done that back in the 90s, but not today, you will get Jonathan Mingo, and you will like it !
Seriously tho as a Cowboys fan, I’m tired of Jerry and Stephen’s shenanigans, and that press conference introducing Schotty as HC has just finally pushed me over the edge, this is their show, a clown show at that and Jerry doesn’t care about winning unless he’s winning it HIS way where he gets ALL the credit. I swear Jerry and Stephen talked more than Schotty did in HIS OWN INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE
It’s time I find a new team, probably gonna go with Houston since they a Texas team at least.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out…
Dumb idea anyway to get Cooper. And if you are tired of it move on. NOBODY makes you be a fan or follow this team. If you really feel that way you are not a real fan to start with and probably have not been since you became a bandwagon guy back in the 90s. Unlike those of us who remember and lived thought the 1 and 15 season and worse seasons before Jerry. So leave.
Kupp was one hell of a WR, but as you point out, the negatives are creeping in a bit. At the right price, he would be a good addition as he probably has gas left in his tank. Don’t like the injuries/missed games, but he is a proven player. One can say draft a WR, and that MAY work out. But then there is always a risk, as some of their recent WR picks can attest to.
Would be fun to see CD and CK lined up together along with fan favorite, KT.
Not worth using any trade assets for him and paying that ridiculous contract. Just why do you think they are dumping him anyway.
Why? Signing Diggs would be much better than paying for a declining player who averages 11 games a year for the last 3 years. Ridiculous idea to even consider it. And you have to trade an asset. With Diggs, he is better, will be cheaper after the injury. He wants to play with his brother and and no trade is involved.
Great, let’s get a malcontent who couldn’t get along with Josh Allen and coming off an ACL, b/c he wants to play with his brother. Not happening just like Kupp is not happening.
And his better years are behind him also.