The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Dyami Brown in free agency but could still make further additions to Trevor Lawrence's arsenal of weapons. While several receivers have already signed, another one with ties to the Jags just became available.
Tom Pelissero of NFL media reports that the Los Angeles Rams are releasing former All-Pro receiver Cooper Kupp. The news doesn't come as a surprise, as they had previously announced that they would cut him if they weren't able to trade him.
While Kupp has dealt with injuries in recent years, he's one of the top slot receivers when he's healthy. He should have no shortage of suitors now that teams don't have to compensate the Rams.
A third-round pick in 2017, Kupp showed promise as a rookie and played a vital role in the Los Angeles' 2021 Super Bowl run, registering 145 catches for 1,947 yards with 16 touchdowns.
But as important as Kupp has been to the Rams' success, he's no longer part of their plans, as they're undergoing somewhat of a rebuild. Add the fact that Puka Nacua is in the mix, and it's easy to see why they're moving in a different direction.
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Why the Jaguars must consider making a strong push for Cooper Kupp
Had the Jacksonville Jaguars traded for Cooper Kupp, they would've had to take on his salary on top of compensating the Los Angeles Rams. That's no longer the case following his release.
Kupp was set to have a cap hit of $29.7 million in 2025 and teams interested in trading him would have had to pay him $20 million next season. However you look at it, that's simply too much for a player who's missed a combined 18 games the past three years.
Now that he's a free agent, Kupp will still garner interest from teams but won't get paid as much as was expected to make with the Rams. This begs the question, why should the Jaguars take a flyer on him?
The Jags just signed Dyami Brown to a one-year deal worth $10 million. However, he's slated to play in the boundaries and stretch the field opposite Brian Thomas Jr. Meanwhile, Kupp is at his best when he operates in the slot. Coincidentally, Jacksonville just released Christian Kirk, who mostly played inside.
While third-year Parker Washington could step in Kirk's place, signing Kupp would allow the coaching staff to also deploy him on special teams, where he found success as a return specialist last year. If that wasn't enough, both head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone know Kupp first-hand because of their previous ties to the Rams.
This is to say that Cooper Kupp should be on demand but it makes too much sense for the Jaguars not to kick the tires on him. After all, the new regime has talked about getting Trevor Lawrence as much help as they can. Signing the former Ram would most definitely help.