The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Liam Coen as their new head coach because they want to help Trevor Lawrence as much as possible. That said, general manager James Gladstone will also need to upgrade the quarterback's arsenal of weapons. Fortunately for him, there's one player he's familiar with from his Los Angeles Rams days that could help with that.
Earlier this offseason, wide receiver Cooper Kupp announced on social media that the Rams were moving on from him but were working with him to ensure he landed in a favorable situation. Here's the tweet he originally posted.
I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships. I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA.
— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) February 4, 2025
Still, if there’s… pic.twitter.com/XWmbGVscGy
Kupp is set to have a cap hit of $29 million in 2024. He's due a $7.5 million bonus on March 16, so the Rams will surely want to move on from him before then. The cost of doing this is an accelerated cap charge of $7.5 million and $22.2 million in dead money. Given that Los Angeles isn't getting cap relief, it's fair to assume that they want to acquire as many assets as possible to rebuild the roster.
Aside from the draft compensation, the Jaguars would be on the hook for Kupp's $20 million salary ($12.5 million in base salary and $7.5 million in the aforementioned bonus) for the 2025 season. In exchange, they would be getting a playmaker who's dealt with injuries in recent seasons but is one of the best in the league when healthy.
A third-round pick in 2017, Kupp showed promise as a rookie, hauling in 62 receptions for 869 yards with five touchdowns. He then went on to log a combined 2,701 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns the next two years.
But it wasn't until 2021, the year the Rams won Super Bowl 56, that Kupp truly broke out, hauling 145 receptions for 1,947 yards with 16 touchdowns. The same year, he won the NFL's triple crown and got All-Pro honors. Unfortunately, things have gone sideways for the Eastern Michigan product since then, having sat out 18 games the past three seasons due to a myriad of ailments.
Add the presence of star receiver Puka Nacua, and it's easy to see why the Rams are ready to move on from Kupp.
Related story: Updated draft picks and cap space for the Jaguars in the 2025 offseason
Trading for Cooper Kupp is a no-brainer for Jaguars after hiring James Gladstone
The Jacksonville Jaguars seemed like a realistic destination for Kupp even before they hired James Gladstone. Now, their odds of trading for the former All-Pro have increased considerably.
Veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk is a likely cut candidate because the Jags would free up $10 million in space if they release him. If that's the path they take, they could use the savings to acquire Kupp.
Like Kirk, Kupp mostly lines up in the slot but also fares well in the boundaries. Granted, Trevor Lawrence has developed a rapport with Kirk since signing with the Jags in 2022, but Gladstone's familiarity with Kupp could motivate him to trade for him.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has also worked with Kupp. First from 2018-2020 and later in 2022, so he knows firsthand what he's capable of doing. When you add it all up, it makes too much sense for Jacksonville not to trade for the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Ultimately, there are several ways the Jacksonville Jaguars can upgrade Trevor Lawrence's arsenal, but based on the Gladstone and Coen connection, trading for Kupp has turned into a legitimate possibility.