The Los Angeles Rams fell devastatingly short to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round, 28-22. Most teams that lose in this phase of the postseason look to upgrade their roster over the summer in hopes of competing for a Super Bowl, but this defeat could lead to much more drastic changes for the Rams.
Los Angeles won the Super Bowl in 2021, led by veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford and triple-crown-winning wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Just three years following this victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on the biggest stage, rumors of Stafford and Kupp moving on have begun to swirl.
Cooper Kupp Unsure of Future With Los Angeles Rams
“I feel like I’ve got a lot of good football left in me,” Kupp said, via ESPN. “I’ll be playing football next year. That much I know.”
The Rams receiver made one thing abundantly clear after Los Angeles’ loss to Philadelphia: retirement is not an option. The problem for Rams fans is the one-time Pro Bowler left the door open for playing elsewhere next season.
“Who knows what’s going to happen,” Kupp said. “That’s out of my control. And we will see what it’s going to be. … I don’t have any clarity on what that’s going to look like or anything like that. So yeah, obviously would love to be in L.A., but I don’t know what that’s going to look like.”
This remark led to NFL fans immediately speculating about where else Kupp could suit up next season.
Chargers, 49ers, raiders, cardinals, steelers, buccs, bears, or packers
— Jake®️ (@JakerThePhantom) January 21, 2025
One fan put out a hefty list of potential landing spots, writing, “Chargers, 49ers, raiders, cardinals, steelers, buccs, bears, or packers.”
Two teams from the AFC North, however, received overwhelming support from the community. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Each team came up short in the playoffs in its own regard, with the Steelers falling to the Ravens while Baltimore came up short against the Buffalo Bills.
Pittsburgh’s QB situation is up in the air, but Kupp is a quarterback-friendly target who can help any offense. If the Steelers select Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or another quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, Kupp could be relied on (if healthy) as a more consistent target than George Pickens.
Meanwhile, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s targets had a drop issue throughout the season. Kupp dropped two passes last season, four the year prior, and two again in 2022. His main concern at this point in his career stems from staying on the field, not his performance on it.
If he’s able to remain healthy, Kupp could make a serious impact in the AFC North for either the Steelers or Ravens. Given his blocking prowess and nuanced game, any team would be lucky to have him.
The Rams finished the year ranked 11th by PFN’s Offense+ metric. With Kupp operating as a key cog in that offensive machine, replacing him could become the tallest task of Los Angeles’ offseason.
