For years, Cooper Kupp has been the heartbeat of the Los Angeles Rams’ passing attack. The 2021 Offensive Player of the Year put together one of the most dominant receiving seasons in NFL history and was instrumental in the Rams’ Super Bowl 56 victory. But now, after an injury-riddled last few seasons and a massive contract still on the books, Los Angeles is ready to move on.
With the Rams looking to clear cap space and retool their roster, Kupp is officially on the trade block, and the market for an elite wide receiver is heating up. And according to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, two unexpected teams might emerge as suitors.
Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs Among ‘Surprise’ Suitors for Cooper Kupp
While several receiver-needy teams could make a push for Kupp, Fowler believes the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs are two dark-horse candidates to land the star wideout.
“Here are a few surprises for you. Detroit Lions. Jared Goff came into the league with Cooper Kupp, that’s instant chemistry. Also, doesn’t this feel like a Kansas City Chiefs move a little bit that they would capitalize on this and make this happen? It just feels like that to me, but we’ll see.”
Assessing Cooper Kupp’s trade market with @Hawk and the @SportsCenter crew pic.twitter.com/AzVuJxTcDm
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 5, 2025
The Lions’ offense is scary enough as is, but what happens if they were to add Kupp to the mix? Detroit will have nearly $60 million in cap space this offseason with 40 players under contract, so they could realistically afford the veteran wideout.
Because the Lions already have Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, they aren’t as WR-needy as some other teams. For Detroit, this move would be more about trying to push an already-talented team over the edge in hopes of winning their first Super Bowl.
On the other hand, the Chiefs are about to play in their third straight Super Bowl, but their wide receiver room was a weakness throughout the season. While quarterback Patrick Mahomes found ways to make things work with tight end Travis Kelce and a rotating cast of wideouts, the team’s lack of a true WR1 was evident.
That’s why the idea of Kansas City making a move for Kupp makes so much sense. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach have never been afraid to make aggressive trades, and adding a proven playmaker like Kupp would immediately elevate Kansas City’s passing game.
The biggest hurdle for Kansas City, however, would be the financial aspect. The Chiefs have limited cap space and would likely need to restructure contracts or get creative to fit Kupp’s deal under the cap. But given their track record, it wouldn’t be shocking if they found a way to make it happen.
