The Los Angeles Rams are at a crossroads. Three years after winning Super Bowl 56, the franchise appears ready to part ways with two of its star players, shocking both teammates and fans while foreshadowing a dramatic roster shift. The Matthew Stafford trade rumors are running rampant, and Los Angeles actively looking to move Cooper Kupp, its triple crown-winning Super Bowl MVP and the heart of their passing game.
It’s a stunning development, considering Kupp’s historic 2021 season, in which he led the NFL in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. But with injuries taking a toll and a massive contract looming, the Rams are looking to reset their roster and are being predicted to replace him with veteran WR Keenan Allen, who had 70 catches for 744 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for the Chicago Bears last season.
Los Angeles Rams To Replace Cooper Kupp With Keenan Allen
Kupp has been with the Rams since they drafted him back in 2017. Joining the team the same year as Sean McVay became head coach, Kupp helped Los Angeles rise from irrelevant to contender to Super Bowl champions. In 2021, he put together one of the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history to lead the Rams to the Super Bowl.
But his time in Los Angeles has come to an end, and part of the reason is his hefty contract.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen predicts the Rams will replace him with Allen and believes the veteran could be the team’s third option behind Puka Nacua.
“Returning to Chicago is an option for Allen, but with the Rams expected to trade Cooper Kupp this spring, there is an opportunity for Allen in Los Angeles. In Sean McVay’s offense — which uses movement and alignment to get wide receivers free access off the ball — Allen could operate as the No. 3 option out of the slot. Allen caught 70 passes and seven TDs in Chicago last season.”
Rams receivers Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell are both set to hit free agency, too, leaving very little depth beyond Nacua.
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The 33-year-old is ranked 27th in PFSN’s Top 100 Free Agent Rankings, and per Marquee Sports Network’s Scott Bair, he is open to returning to Los Angeles.
Spotrac estimates Allen’s market value this offseason to be about $22.2 million on a two-year contract. Keeping Allen until he’s just shy of 35 isn’t as appealing as a one-year deal, but may be necessary to secure the veteran addition.
“After six Pro Bowl seasons in 11 years with the Chargers, Keenan Allen’s first year with the Bears was considerably rockier,” PFSN Ben Rolfe wrote.
“The veteran struggled to find chemistry with Caleb Williams, averaging the lowest catch percentage (57.9%) and fewest yards per route (1.4) of his career. Allen was also only targeted on 22% of his routes, the fewest since his rookie season in 2013. A surprising level of red-zone production goosed his touchdown total (seven), but that belies his actual impact in the Bears’ offense.
“Allen played most of the Bears’ 12 personnel snaps alongside DJ Moore, which meant his playing time came at the expense of first-round rookie Rome Odunze. It’s hard to imagine Allen remaining ahead of Odunze on the depth chart if he returns, and he could choose the cleaner route by moving on entirely.”
Allen is the third-best wide receiver available in free agency this offseason behind only Cincinnati Bengals star Tee Higgins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, per PFSN’s rankings. Both may re-sign with their respective teams; and if they do, Allen might receive a sizable contract from the Rams.
