NFL News Cooper Kupp on trade block [3/12: cut][3/14: signs w/Seattle]

[mike_usagisan]

The Pats must be having off-the-record conversations with Higgins' agent and have some idea if they're in the mix. If not, then it's time to look at Plan B's, like Cooper.

 

[Family]

having kupp, pop, Boutte and another guy could really take this offense upwards.

Unless the other guy is Chase or Jefferson levelish, it's a below average WR group.

 

[rkarp1]

Kupp as I read it, if traded, will cost 2/$40 give or take some small dollars
the going rate for a Higgins or Metcalf will be well north of $30m per, perhaps closer to $40m.
Kupp for 2 years imo is a reasonable gamble. honestly, I would rather him than Bourne in the WR room.
still draft a WR, or sign a 2nd WR in FA. having Kupp in the WR room with Polk, Pop and Boutte is a positive as well.
would their 5th and one their 7th's get it done?

 

[PowerRunRevival]

SAY it all you want. There is ZERO reason for Kupp to restructure unless it is to get MORE money.

Would you rather be paid now or be paid later?

The reason for him to restructure is that they would turn his salary into a signing bonus, which could be paid out immediately.

In the NFL where teams can cut players before paying the full value of their contract there is value in restructuring money into a signing bonus so you are guaranteed to get money immediately.

I think he will restructure with the Rams right before he’s dealt because it makes sense for both sides. If the Rams convert some of his salary to a bonus the next team doesn’t need to pay Cooper as much so the Rams would get a better draft pick return. Kupp would get paid that money now.

There is zero chance that the team he’s traded to takes the full 20 mm per year cap hit imo.

 

[Grogan14]

For a 5th rounder yes. But nothing better than that. He is a 2 at this point. If you pair him with Tee Higgins now we are talking.
Its risky
Wrong side of 30
Injury history
Availability history
Not a burner

2 more good years at most

 

[Ross12]

Would this be a rare case where not converting salary to signing bonus would be better? Usually that’s done to lower immediate cap hit by spreading signing bonus out. But this year Pats are flush with cap space, so why reduce future cap space with dead money? Maybe restructure by adding a third year, perhaps use some NLTBE bonuses to sweeten it?

Mainly to entice Kupp. He would get all of his money for the year upfront guaranteed instead of most of it being non-guaranteed. I did mention adding a 3rd year also.

 

[Real fan 02]

Unless the other guy is Chase or Jefferson levelish, it's a below average WR group.

Doesn't have to be chase or JJ.. can be a next tier guy like DK Metcalf or Chris Olave. Kupp would have to be accounted for by the defense is what I'm getting at.. those types of WRs thrive under McDaniels. Remember having McDaniels alone is already an upgrade to the entire offense.

 

[Family]

Doesn't have to be chase or JJ.. can be a next tier guy like DK Metcalf or Chris Olave. Kupp would have to be accounted for by the defense is what I'm getting at.. those types of WRs thrive under McDaniels. Remember having McDaniels alone is already an upgrade to the entire offense.

I think you are remembering the ghost of Cooper Kupp.

Without Kupp does KK Metcalf make our current group average because CK would be like adding another Bourne.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think you are remembering the ghost of Cooper Kupp.

Without Kupp does KK Metcalf make our current group average because CK would be like adding another Bourne.

I think your vastly underrating kupp. Did you get a chance to watch him against us? Or in the divisional game against the eagles? I'm simply saying you get kupp and, add another guy on the outside this offense then can really do something.

 

[Family]

I think your vastly underrating kupp. Did you get a chance to watch him against us? Or in the divisional game against the eagles? I'm simply saying you get kupp and, add another guy on the outside this offense then can really do something.

#3 receivers can have a few good games.

I thought he was nothing special against the Eagles.

Look at his stats down the stretch.

 

[Grogan14]

Metcalf is a much better fit for this team. I know he said he does not like the region but maybe he could be persuaded. A third might get it done.
Physical deep threats like him do not grow on trees.
Trade for Metcalf yes
Trade for Kupp no

 

[Real fan 02]

Metcalf is a much better fit for this team. I know he said he does not like the region but maybe he could be persuaded. A third might get it done.
Physical deep threats like him do not grow on trees.
Trade for Metcalf yes
Trade for Kupp no

Why can we have them both??

 

[Real fan 02]

#3 receivers can have a few good games.

I thought he was nothing special against the Eagles.

Look at his stats down the stretch.

Idk.. maybe it's just that our current WR corps is so lackluster that I'm overlooking his production. I just know there's a place for kupp here.

 

[Family]

Idk.. maybe it's just that our current WR corps is so lackluster that I'm overlooking his production. I just know there's a place for kupp here.

If we could have him on a Bourne type contract 3 years 19 million 4.5 guaranteed, I would be on board, but I don't see that happening.

 

[Real fan 02]

If we could have him on a Bourne type contract 3 years 19 million 4.5 guaranteed, I would be on board, but I don't see that happening.

I agree there. I guess it would all depend on the trade compensation for him.. I would offer the 3rd rounder for him and try and extend him. Did LAR pay kupp in the last few seasons I can't remember?

 

[imahobgoblin]

Unless the other guy is Chase or Jefferson levelish, it's a below average WR group.

Are you claiming a team needs an elite WR just to be average? To find an average, you add all the teams passing yards together and divide it by 32. You could do either the total yards or yards per game. Bengals are first with 272.9 per game and Pats last with 176.1. The middle of the pack is 214.5 (That is not the actual average becasue I am not wasting my time adding 32 to teams up). Adding Chase or Jefferson level to the Pats would not bring them to average. The difference from best to last is 38 yards a game. You are claiming Chase or Jefferson would only have 653 yards on this team? Ummmmm no.

 

[Family]

Are you claiming a team needs an elite WR just to be average? To find an average, you add all the teams passing yards together and divide it by 32. You could do either the total yards or yards per game. Bengals are first with 272.9 per game and Pats last with 176.1. The middle of the pack is 214.5 (That is not the actual average becasue I am not wasting my time adding 32 to teams up). Adding Chase or Jefferson level to the Pats would not bring them to average. The difference from best to last is 38 yards a game. You are claiming Chase or Jefferson would only have 653 yards on this team? Ummmmm no.

Yeah my statement was a little too much.

My point was that I consider the entire group, Kupp/Bourne/Pop/Boutte to be a bunch of #3's.

 

[Family]

I agree there. I guess it would all depend on the trade compensation for him.. I would offer the 3rd rounder for him and try and extend him. Did LAR pay kupp in the last few seasons I can't remember?

Kupp would only be worth a third rounder if he came with that contract.

I'm not an expert on this, but it would take a lot to get this into that:

Cooper Kupp | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Cooper Kupp signed a 3 year, $80,100,000 contract with the Los Angeles Rams, including $20,000,000 signing bonus, $75,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $26,700,000. In 2025, Kupp will earn a base salary of $12,500,000 and a roster bonus of $7,500,000, while carrying a cap...

www.spotrac.com

 

[Real fan 02]

Kupp would only be worth a third rounder if he came with that contract.

I'm not an expert on this, but it would take a lot to get this into that:

Cooper Kupp | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Cooper Kupp signed a 3 year, $80,100,000 contract with the Los Angeles Rams, including $20,000,000 signing bonus, $75,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $26,700,000. In 2025, Kupp will earn a base salary of $12,500,000 and a roster bonus of $7,500,000, while carrying a cap...

www.spotrac.com

Got it. Thank you for this. So he did get paid. He'd be a #2 option here. As I mentioned kupp and say DK or even Chris Olave completely changes everything.. pop in the slot, Gibson on 3rd down as the pass catching back. The entire offense would be much better. Defenses would be on thier heels.. and I haven't even brought up Drake and his abilities to run.

 

[Pape]

Would you rather be paid now or be paid later?

The reason for him to restructure is that they would turn his salary into a signing bonus, which could be paid out immediately.

In the NFL where teams can cut players before paying the full value of their contract there is value in restructuring money into a signing bonus so you are guaranteed to get money immediately.

I think he will restructure with the Rams right before he’s dealt because it makes sense for both sides. If the Rams convert some of his salary to a bonus the next team doesn’t need to pay Cooper as much so the Rams would get a better draft pick return. Kupp would get paid that money now.

There is zero chance that the team he’s traded to takes the full 20 mm per year cap hit imo.

If he stays put, without doing anything, he picks up 7.5 million when the new year starts in the form of a roster bonus... if he does nothing, then he banks that guaranteed money without lifting a finger... all he has to do is wait...

It does not benefit him to restructure at this point... The size of the contract gives him leverage... If he identifies an acceptable destination, then it would benefit him to restructure the deal/sign a new deal to facilitate a trade... and then he gets new bonus money... so it does not benefit him to do anything at this point... ymmv on that conclusion

its a waiting game for him... either way, he is getting a lot of guaranteed dollars next year...