Cooper Kupp has been one of the top receivers in the NFL over the past eight seasons, but this offseason has been a roller coaster for the former Los Angeles Rams star.
Despite the Rams retaining quarterback Matthew Stafford on a restructured contract, the team effectively moved on from Kupp, signing free-agent wideout Davante Adams to a two-year deal.
Rams defensive end Braden Fiske is still adjusting to the flurry of offseason changes, but he admits he was disappointed to see Kupp get released.
Braden Fiske Disappointed With Cooper Kupp’s Departure
Kupp was a cornerstone of Sean McVay’s offense since arriving in 2017, earning the receiving Triple Crown in 2021 with 145 receptions, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns, leading to a Super Bowl win.
However, injuries have impacted Kupp over the past three seasons. After ranking second in EPA per target among qualified receivers from 2021-22, he dropped to 45th out of 51 over the past two years. His red-zone usage has also declined, raising questions about his ability to perform in high-leverage situations as he ages. Ultimately, these concerns led to his release, which left Fiske disappointed.
Fiske, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, said he had started to build a relationship with Kupp late in the season when he was also making a strong case for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
“I had started to build a relationship with Cooper later in the season, so I was a little disappointed in what was going on,” Fiske told RG. “As I’ve kind of learned, it’s the unfortunate side of the business — you never wanna see your brother get traded or released.”
Fiske admitted it was a tough transition but also acknowledged that the only way forward was to move on.
“You also know that this is kind of how the business is handled, and you gotta keep moving on, you gotta keep playing ball, and obviously, you wish the best for Cooper and his family.”
“Being a young player, you’re always surprised by moves like that ‘cause you’re so new to the league, and in college, you’re so used to guys being there. There’s no trades in college. Obviously, it was tough.”
Despite battling injuries, Kupp still managed to post more than 700 receiving yards in each of the past three seasons, with 17 touchdowns in that span — just one more than he scored in 2021 alone. He signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, and Fiske is confident he will make them a better team.
“He’s going to make that wide receiver room better, he’s going to make that team better, ‘cause he’s a great human. I can’t really say enough good things about him. He really is one of the greatest humans I’ve been around.”
Fiske Shares Thoughts on Davante Adams’ Addition to Rams’ Receiver Room
With Kupp out the door following a relatively quiet 2024 season, the Rams were in desperate need of another receiver to take some of the defensive attention away from Puka Nacua.
Enter Adams, who, despite being 32 years old and closing out his 13th NFL campaign, had a strong season last year, racking up 85 catches for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns between his brief tenures with the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets.
The Rams signed him to a two-year, $46 million deal, and Fiske believes Adams is a great addition, saying he will form a lethal duo with Nacua.
“Adams’ resume speaks for itself. Everywhere he’s gone, he has had success no matter who the quarterback was and what the situation was. He finds a way to make it happen. I’m excited to see him paired up with Matthew Stafford. With Puka and the rest of the squad, that could be a pretty lethal lineup.”
Adding Adams to a skill group that ranked No. 11 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric last season certainly puts NFC contenders on notice. Even with the 24th-ranked defense in PFSN’s Defense+ rankings at 69.9 (D+), the Rams’ Defense+ score jumped to 74.0 (C) in the postseason.
With 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and Fiske, who was a finalist, anchoring their front seven, the Rams are once again poised to be one of the strongest teams in the NFC.
All Cooper had to do was to take a pay cut. He wanted to be paid for past services…
I didn’t spell one word wrong, it turns out ke this
Just remember Amsterdam players, it was weird seeingredients Joe Motana in a Kansa City helmet. Joe still had some geat years. However, when great players are too expensive,the rest of the team will suffer. Kupp wil do great and have his bag too!