close
close

Chiefs and Steelers are among the top WR prospects

Posted on by Kennedy
Chiefs and Steelers are among the top WR prospects

play

In the NFL, some well-known wide receivers have already been dealt before the 2024 trade deadline. Davante Adams and Amari Cooper have joined new teams. Could fans soon see another player traded?

Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp was the subject of trade rumors ahead of his team's Week 8 game against the Minnesota Vikings. The veteran wideout is on track to return from an ankle injury that has kept him out since Week 2, and that could help him establish himself as a top trade target with just a few weeks until the trade-off. Deadline remaining.

According to a report from The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Mike Silver and Jourdan Rodrigue, the Rams have called “several teams” about a possible Kupp transfer. The Rams hope I want to receive a second-round pick for Kupp as part of the deal and have also expressed his willingness to take on a portion of the salary remaining in his 2024 contract to make a deal possible.

Kupp would likely draw a lot of interest on the NFL trade market, especially with numerous big-name receivers suffering season-ending injuries in recent weeks.

Which competitors could use Kupp's services the most? Here are nine of the best and most plausible landing spots for the 31-year-old receiver should the Rams decide to part ways with him after their 2-4 start to the 2024 NFL season.

DAVANTE ADAMS COMMERCIAL QUALITIES: Who won the Jets-Raiders deal?

The Chiefs are considered the obvious candidate for Kupp. They lost Rashee Rice to a season-ending knee injury and were also without Hollywood Brown (shoulder). Veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is also currently injured. Kupp would provide Patrick Mahomes with a great, consistent target from the slot, a position the quarterback enjoys throwing to, and increase the undefeated Chiefs' chances of pulling off an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat.

Mike Tomlin has led the Steelers to a 5-2 record in seven games, and it appears as if Pittsburgh has a legitimate chance to compete for the AFC North title. However, the Steelers could use an upgrade over Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III as their No. 2 and No. 3 receivers, respectively. That's one of the reasons they were involved in trade talks with Brandon Aiyuk in the offseason, but nothing ever came of it.

Kupp's separation ability complements George Pickens' competitive catching skills well. This duo could be a huge one-two punch for Russell Wilson. Think of it as a less fast but more physical combination of the DK Metcalf/Tyler Lockett combination that Wilson used so effectively during his time with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Steelers aren't the only team in the AFC North looking to upgrade their receiver room. The Ravens got excellent production from Zay Flowers in his second season, but their receiving prospects beyond him were mixed.

Kupp would provide a steady presence in the middle of the field and help provide breakthroughs for Baltimore's impressive tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. That could help the Ravens overcome the crisis and make it to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2013.

NFL POWER RANKINGS WEEK 8: Bucs, Vikings slip into reshuffled NFC picture

The Lions' receiving corps has been better than expected in 2024 thanks to the emergence of Jameson Williams and the preseason acquisition of Tim Patrick, so they don't necessarily need to trade for Kupp.

However, if Detroit wants to go all-in, the chemistry between Kupp and Jared Goff would be there right away. The two spent four years together with the Rams before Goff was sent to Detroit in exchange for Matthew Stafford. So it wouldn't be long before he became one of Goff's favorite center fielders.

For those wondering whether Kupp would overlap too much with Amon-Ra St. Brown's skill set, it's worth noting that St. Brown has played 178 snaps outside the perimeter this season, which is 52.5 according to PFF percent of his snaps at receiver corresponds. In comparison, Kupp has played the slot 75.2 percent of the time, so Ben Johnson could find a way to move both of them and put them in strong positions.

NFL WEEK 7: 32 things we learned, including key statements from top contenders

The Commanders may be among the teams best positioned to trade for Kupp if they wish. According to OverTheCap.com, Washington is 5-2, has star quarterback Jayden Daniels on a cost-controlled rookie deal and nearly $25 million in cap space for the 2024 NFL season.

Washington general manager Adam Peters spent seven years in the San Francisco 49ers front office. The 49ers were among the most aggressive teams in the NFL during his three-year tenure as assistant GM before the trade deadline. So don't be surprised if the Commanders push for Kupp. That would give Daniels a great receiver duo in Kupp and Terry McLaurin.

The Buccaneers lost Chris Godwin for the season due to an ankle injury. Their other top receiver, Mike Evans, is dealing with a hamstring strain that will keep him out indefinitely. Baker Mayfield needs some help to keep Tampa Bay's offense going, so Jason Licht might be tempted to make a deal to acquire Kupp, who could help keep Godwin, a 2025 free agent, this season and beyond beyond replacing.

Like the Buccaneers, the Falcons are 4-3 and hoping to win the NFC South. They may not need a receiving weapon as much as their division rival, but Kupp would be a huge improvement over Ray-Ray McCloud as Atlanta's top slot option.

Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson knows Kupp from his five years with the Rams. That would allow Kupp to seamlessly transition into Atlanta's offense, which could be enough to convince Falcons owner Arthur Blank (82) to give general manager Terry Fontenot the opportunity to pursue another player at the talent position decide.

Could the Cowboys use Kupp? Surely. They lack a proven No. 2 receiver opposite CeeDee Lamb, and the duo's ability to play inside and outside would add some versatility to Dallas' passing attack.

But will the Cowboys really be interested in Kupp? That's less certain considering Jerry Jones's consistent complaints about Dallas not being able to afford key free agents in the 2024 offseason. Maybe Jones would be willing to forgo a high-end pick at receiver if they could get the Rams to eat up a good chunk of Kupp's deal.

The Cowboys are more likely to be eliminated from the sweepstakes if things get heated.

JARRETT BELL: Without Patrick Mahomes' signature fireworks, the Chiefs are putting the rest of the NFL on notice

OK, here's another one that's fun. Can you imagine the Vikings offense with Kupp, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison? That would give Minnesota the firepower it needs to make a Super Bowl run, assuming Sam Darnold can stay healthy.

Of course, the Vikings have already made Jefferson the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, so they may not want to add another expensive veteran to the position. At the same time, Darnold only costs the team $10 million for the 2024 season, so they may be able to make room for Kupp in the short term. Kevin O'Connell also worked with Kupp in Los Angeles. So if their connection is strong enough, Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could be willing to target Kupp.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *