At 1-4, the Rams are off to their worst start under coach Sean McVay. With a loss on Sunday to the Raiders, the Rams would fall to their worst six-game record since 2011, when they started 0-6 en route to 2-14.
If the losses continue, the Rams may end up moving on from Super Bowl LVI MVP Cooper Kupp.
Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the calls have already startedfueled by the recent frenzy that led to the Raiders trading Davante Adams and the Browns sending Amari Cooper to the Bills.
Kupp played just two games this season. He had 14 catches for 110 yards in a Week 1 overtime loss to the Lions. He suffered an ankle injury in a Week 2 loss to the Cardinals. He hasn’t played since.
Injuries in 2022 and 2023 kept him from reaching 1,000 receiving yards in both seasons. The highlight came in 2021, when Kupp caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns.
So like the before eff-them-choices Rams would like to build for the future, now is the time to do that. Especially with Puka Nacua and other capable young receivers on the roster.
The deeper question for the Rams is whether it’s time to explore trading the guy who throws the ball to Kupp. If quarterback Matthew Stafford is in his final season with the Rams (and that’s entirely possible), he might want a chance to play for a contender, if not.
With three weekends of football remaining until the trade deadline, all it takes for a potential playoff team is one injury to a starter to open a market for Stafford. When it comes to Kupp, enough prospects are interested in an upgrade to generate interest in him.
It all comes down to whether the Rams are ready to move on. And that comes down to the upcoming games against the Raiders, Vikings and Seahawks.
Kupp is signed through 2026. In 2025, he must earn $20 million, of which $5 million is fully guaranteed. He also has $19.85 million in salary and bonuses due through 2026.
As the current receiver market goes, that’s not a bad deal. The question is whether the 31-year-old Kupp can make a big impact with a new team, especially if he has to immediately adapt to a new city, a new coach, a new quarterback, new everything.
