The Los Angeles Rams could potentially save a significant amount of money by releasing veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp this offseason. Given that trade rumors surrounded Kupp during the 2024 season, his future with the team remains uncertain.
New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has already taken the opportunity to recruit Kupp to Foxboro. Kupp recently stated that he intends to continue his career into the 2025 season and believes he still has plenty of good football left in him. However, he admitted that his future with the Rams is unclear.
“Who knows what’s going to happen?” Kupp said. “That’s out of my control. We’ll see what it looks like. … I’d love to stay in L.A., but I don’t know what the future holds.”
Kupp, who is 31 years old, carries a $29.7 million cap hit in 2025 and a $27.3 million cap hit in 2026 under his current contract. If the Rams were to release him, they would save $15 million in cash and $7.5 million against the cap. If designated as a post-June 1 cut, they would carry $22.2 million in dead cap.
Once considered one of the league’s top receivers and quarterback Matthew Stafford’s go-to target, Kupp’s production has declined. He finished the 2024 season with 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. Injuries have been a recurring issue, as he has missed 18 games over the past three seasons. Additionally, Puka Nacua has stepped up as the Rams’ leading receiver, catching 79 passes for 990 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. Given Kupp’s large cap hit and Nacua’s emergence, the Rams might decide to move on from him.
Meanwhile, the Patriots are in desperate need of offensive playmakers to support their young quarterback, Drake Maye. If the Rams decide to part ways with Kupp, New England could be a logical landing spot.
According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots might also consider another high-profile receiver—Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill. Fowler reported that there have been signs of Hill’s dissatisfaction in Miami following his Week 18 comments, and the Patriots could be in a position to capitalize under new head coach Mike Vrabel.
While in-division trades were once rare, Fowler pointed out that they are more common now, and it would ultimately depend on which team offers the best deal. An NFC executive suggested that Miami might be willing to accept some of New England’s draft capital in exchange for Hill.
“The Patriots are desperate,” an NFC personnel executive stated. “They need that alpha receiver who can be a reliable target for Drake Maye.” The executive added that New England’s draft picks could hold more value for Miami compared to a contender’s offer.
If the Patriots fail to acquire a top free-agent wide receiver like Tee Higgins, Hill could be a viable alternative. However, New England has historically struggled to attract elite pass-catchers in free agency.
Hill is coming off a down year compared to his previous performances, recording 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns. Despite falling short of 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 2019, Hill could still provide a major boost to the Patriots’ struggling offense, which failed to produce a single 700-yard receiver in 2024.
If acquiring Hill requires only a Day 2 draft pick and additional assets, New England has the financial flexibility to make the move, with over $100 million in available cap space.
While the potential fit appears promising, the key question is whether the Patriots’ front office will be proactive enough to pursue a blockbuster trade. Only time will tell.
