The Kansas City Chiefs are in urgent need of help at the wide receiver position, and Los Angeles Rams wideout Cooper Kupp is reportedly on the trading block, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini on October 22.
“The Rams have contacted several teams about trading former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp,” Russini wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Sources tell @mikesilver, @jourdanrodrigue, and me that the Rams are open to taking on part of his 2024 salary and are asking for a second-round pick.”
It’s possible the Chiefs could make room for Kupp if the Rams cover enough of his salary. However, giving up a second-round pick for a 31-year-old receiver who has missed 11 games since 2022 is a steep price for a short-term option, especially with Kupp’s injury history.
This sparked discussions on X about the possibility of Kupp joining the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
“If there’s any team we’d want Cooper Kupp to finish his career with, it’s KC,” the Rams Brothers podcast tweeted. “He’d get to play with the best QB in the world and have a shot at more Super Bowl wins, improving his Hall of Fame chances. But it would break our hearts.”
“Uh oh! Cooper Kupp in trade talks. I think the Chiefs are gonna get him,” another user posted. “If the Chiefs land Kupp, they’ll be winning championships for the next 2-3 years. Could see them going for 4-5 straight titles.”
“This makes way too much sense for the Chiefs,” another fan wrote. “They’ve got their deep threat in Worthy and Kelce for short-yardage plays. Kupp could be their reliable chain mover.”
Dianna Russini Highlights Chiefs’ Salary Cap Issues
During an appearance on “The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz” on October 22, Russini discussed the Chiefs as a potential landing spot for Kupp, noting how their limited cap space could complicate the deal.
“If the Rams are willing to take on the salary, which I’ve heard they are, they’re open to trading Cooper Kupp,” Russini explained. “We’ll see if a deal can be made, but I don’t think the Chiefs have enough cap space, even with the Rams covering part of the cost. That’s been the issue and why they haven’t pursued players like Davante Adams or Amari Cooper as aggressively as other teams.”
Chiefs Face Long Odds in Landing Kupp at Current Price
According to the NFLPA Public Salary Cap Report, the Chiefs have just $4.3 million in available cap space.
Kupp was due to make a $9.1 million base salary for the 2024 season. While Russini reported that the Rams are willing to absorb some of the remaining salary, Kupp is also owed $5 million in guarantees for 2025, with no guaranteed money in 2026, according to Spotrac.
Kupp remains a top-tier talent when healthy, but his growing list of injuries makes him a riskier trade target with a significant price tag.
