With the Los Angeles Rams reportedly making Cooper Kupp available for trade, the Washington Commanders should be preparing an offer for two key reasons.
NFL.com columnist Jeff Chadiha outlined why acquiring Kupp would be a game-changer for Washington. First, the Commanders “struck gold with Jayden Daniels in Year 1. Now it’s time to keep giving him weapons to put this team in position to make another run at the NFC championship.”
Second, Washington must strengthen its roster to compete with the Philadelphia Eagles, the team that ended their season in the NFC Championship Game. As Chadiha noted, “It won’t be easy for the Commanders to again go as far as they did in 2024, but adding Kupp will make that goal much more attainable.”
A Trade Washington Can Afford
Financially, the Commanders are in a prime position to make this move. Chadiha pointed out that the team has “a ton of cap space, so they can handle Kupp’s contract.” According to Spotrac.com’s Michael Ginnitti, any team acquiring Kupp would take on:
2025: $20 million ($5 million guaranteed)
2026: $19.85 million (non-guaranteed)
With general manager Adam Peters projected to have $82.4 million in salary cap space, Washington can comfortably absorb Kupp’s deal. That kind of flexibility makes it easier to land a former Super Bowl MVP and the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Although Kupp is reportedly unhappy about being on the trade block, he was open about his uncertain future with the Rams at season’s end. As The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reported, while Kupp isn’t sure where he’ll play next, “he was clear that he wants to keep playing.”
At 31, Kupp may not be at his peak, but he remains an elite route-runner who thrives between the hashmarks and can be moved around formations. His skill set would make him a perfect complement to Jayden Daniels’ top target, Terry McLaurin, who excels on the perimeter.
Adding Kupp would give Daniels a polished inside receiver—something Washington lacked in 2024.
Commanders Need a Reliable Slot Receiver
Several players had opportunities to fill the slot role for Washington last season, but none stood out. Veterans Olamide Zaccheaus and Jamison Crowder had flashes of production, but neither possesses Kupp’s elite separation ability or consistency.
A prime example of Kupp’s skill was seen in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks, when he showcased his ability to create space between the numbers, as highlighted by Receiver School.
While Kupp can still make plays, his role in the Rams’ offense shifted in 2024. The emergence of Puka Nacua saw Los Angeles move away from Kupp as the focal point, instead using him as more of a deep threat.
This adjustment hurt his production, as NBC Sports’ Kyle Dvorchak detailed:
Kupp’s average target depth jumped to 10.4 yards from Week 10 onward—the highest of his career.
His target share dropped to 20% over his final 10 games, compared to 25% in 2023.
Matthew Stafford targeted him on just 19% of his routes, down from 23% in 2023.
By joining Washington, Kupp could return to his natural role as a short-area possession receiver, something offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury prioritizes. Dvorchak pointed out that “Kingsbury’s love of short throws” could help Kupp thrive again.
With Luke McCaffrey, the team’s 2024 third-round pick, managing just 18 receptions as a rookie, the Commanders can’t afford to gamble on internal improvement.
They won’t find a receiver of Kupp’s caliber in free agency, making a trade the best path to equipping Jayden Daniels with another proven weapon.
