The Rams are looking to trade Cooper Kupp and are open to absorbing some of the remaining money on his contract, as reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Kupp is scheduled to earn $20 million in 2025, which includes a $12.5 million base salary and a $7.5 million roster bonus due on March 17, according to OverTheCap. $5 million of this roster bonus became fully guaranteed in 2024.
If the Rams execute a trade before June 1, they would incur a $17.26 million dead cap hit in 2025, due to the remaining prorations of Kupp’s signing bonus. This would free up additional resources for the Rams to address other needs through free agency and the upcoming draft.
Opting for a post-June 1 trade would shift $7.48 million of dead money to 2026, but the Rams would still be responsible for Kupp’s 2025 roster bonus, essentially neutralizing the advantage of the deferment. Delaying the trade would also cost them draft capital for 2025 and limit their ability to sign key free agents in March.
For these reasons, the Rams prefer to complete a trade before the new league year begins, which explains their willingness to take on more of Kupp’s contract. In the past, the Rams have paid roster bonuses early to ease the financial burden of a trade, as noted by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This could help create a market for Kupp, who is expected to attract interest due to his reputation as a reliable, versatile, and skilled playmaker. His age and recent injury history are the only potential concerns remaining for teams considering a trade.
Kupp’s skill set makes him a good fit for many NFL teams, but certain organizations are more likely to pursue him. According to Fowler, the Steelers, Commanders, and Patriots stand out as strong candidates. Pittsburgh showed interest at the 2024 trade deadline, while Washington and New England both have significant cap space and could benefit from adding an experienced, quarterback-friendly receiver like Kupp. The Lions, with enough cap space, could also absorb his contract, alongside Kupp’s former teammate, Jared Goff, at quarterback.