The Jacksonville Jaguars added wide receiver help in free agency but were still linked to Cooper Kupp because of his ties to the new regime. However, an NFL insider has a discouraging update in regards to the Jags' chances of landing the 2021 All-Pro nod.
Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports that Jacksonville isn't among the teams that are in pursuit of Kupp despite what other reports say.
Earlier the same day, Schultz broke the news that five teams are interested in Kupp, noting that the Eastern Washington product would make a decision soon.
Similarly, Dianna Russini of The Athletic suggested the Jags could land Kupp, citing James Gladstone's connection to Kupp dating back to his Los Angeles Rams days. She added that Jacksonville had openings at receiver after moving on from Josh Reynolds and Devin Duvernay.
As Cooper Kupp remains unsigned, it’s worth noting that former Rams executive and now Jags GM James Gladstone was with Kupp in L.A.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 12, 2025
WRs Josh Reynolds and Devin Duvernay were cut last week in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars have openings at receiver. We’ll see. pic.twitter.com/kUDEzui9Ms
Based on the latest update, though, you can safely rule out the Jaguars as a potential destination for Kupp, who officially got released by the Rams when the NFL year began on March 12.
A third-round pick in the 2017 draft, Kupp has been a mainstay of the Rams offense for years. His best season came in 2021, when he earned the NFL's receiver triple crown after leading the league in receiving yards, catches and receiver touchdowns. However, he hasn't been nearly as productive the past three seasons and has missed a total of 30 games due to injuries.
Related story: Updated Jaguars free agency tracker with all the signings and losses
Why the Jaguars aren't making a run for Cooper Kupp
It's uncertain whether the Jacksonville Jaguars were pursuing Cooper Kupp, or he didn't see them as a fit. Either way, the news doesn't come as a surprise. General manager James Gladstone told the local media that the team was always open to ways to get better but time would truly tell whether they would pursue the veteran receiver.
In the same exchance, Gladstone said that Jacksonville needed roster spots for the incoming rookie class and bringing in veterans in free agency would potentially hinder their performance. Granted, he was talking about the defensive trenches but you could very well apply the same point to other position groups.
Had the Jaguars signed Kupp, he would've probably replaced Christian Kirk in the slot. This in turn would've prevented third-year receiver Parker Washington from getting a bigger workload, which he earned after showing out last year. Moreover, there's a chance Jacksonville wouldn't have gotten enough bang for its buck.
As Warren Sharp of Sharp Football pointed out, Kupp's ability go get open has gotten progressively worse the past four years, sliding from the top 15 in 2021 to the cellar of the NFL last season. It's fair to assume that injuries have taken a toll on him.
this is not good
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 13, 2025
Cooper Kupp's rank in ability to get "open"
2021: #15 of 160
2022: #71 of 150
2023: #102 of 153
2024: #141 of 159
per ESPN's player tracking data pic.twitter.com/SSmQ4NT9TY
Sure, the Jags would no longer have to compensate the Rams to acquire Kupp, but the value isn't there from a performance standpoint.
The bottom line is that Cooper Kupp might still have enough juice to help a handful of teams. But due to the presence of Parker Washington, the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't one of them.