Rams are actively shopping a former All-Pro wide receiver, but a trade might not be so easy for the Chiefs

A new wide receiver has emerged as a potential trade candidate for the Kansas City Chiefs. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Los Angeles Rams have called teams about a potential trade for WR Cooper Kupp. Russini says that the Rams are seeking a second-round draft pick and are willing to take on some of Kupp's […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
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A new wide receiver has emerged as a potential trade candidate for the Kansas City Chiefs. 

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Los Angeles Rams have called teams about a potential trade for WR Cooper Kupp. Russini says that the Rams are seeking a second-round draft pick and are willing to take on some of Kupp's 2024 salary in return.

Kupp is a former third-round draft pick who has amassed 585 receptions for 7,213 yards and 75 touchdown grabs since the 2017 NFL season. His 2021 NFL season was legendary as he led the league in receptions, touchdowns, and yards. He also earned Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro selections to go along with NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors and a Super Bowl LVI MVP award. 

As for the Chiefs specifically, Russini had to say this on the "Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" about a potential deal to acquire Kupp from the Rams: 

"If the Rams are willing to take on some salary, which I've heard the Rams are willing to do. They are open to trading Cooper Kupp, so we'll see if they'll be able to get a deal done. I just don't think Kansas City has enough money even if the Rams were to take on some of that salary. That has been the problem and the reason why they haven't been able to go after a Davante Adams, an Amari Cooper, like we've seen other teams be aggressive." 

Chiefs face financial obstacles in trade for Rams WR Cooper Kupp

The Chiefs have just $4.3 million in available salary cap space according to the NFLPA's public salary cap report. They'll need a portion of that money just to be able to do ordinary business for the remainder of the 2024 NFL season.

Russini indicated that the money has been a problem for Kansas City when it comes to being aggressive in trading for a wide receiver. She's not wrong about that, at least not when it comes to Davante Adams or Cooper Kupp, the Amari Cooper comment is a bit disingenuous as he was perhaps the most affordable and impactful player on the trade market. 

As for trading for Kupp, the 31-year-old is under contract through the 2026 NFL season. Kupp's total 2025 salary is $15 million. That number will be prorated for the acquiring team based on when he's traded, but even if that occurs ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline, the Chiefs would have to come up with over $9 million to pay him for the remainder of the season. That's without even considering the future impact Kupp could have on the salary cap. 

As Russini suggests, the Rams are willing to help with some of those financial commitments via a reworked contract agreement, should they receive a second-round pick for Kupp. Can they get that number down to a place where the Chiefs could make it work? Will Kansas City be willing to cough up a future second-round pick to make it happen?

There's also something else to consider. . . 

Durability is a major question with Rams WR Cooper Kupp

The entire reason the Chiefs are in this wide receiver mess in the first place is because of injuries. There have been some major durability questions surrounding Kupp in recent years, including as recently as this season. Kupp hasn't played since Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season due to a high ankle sprain. Ever since Super Bowl LVI, he's dealt with numerous lower body injuries including four separate ankle sprains, including one that required tightrope surgery. He also had a nagging hamstring injury at the onset of the 2023 NFL season. 

There's no denying Kupp's talent and that he'd fill a major need for the Chiefs, but there are certainly some valid concerns about cost, health, and age that could hold a potential deal up between Los Angeles and Kansas City.

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