Cooper Kupp (Photo by Getty Images)
A blockbuster trade proposal has an AFC contender landing Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp in a move that would make them the Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest threat to a potential three-peat.
Cooper Kupp has been widely mentioned in trade rumors this month, but it will take a significant haul for the Rams to give him up. After missing four games with an ankle injury, he returned last Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings and helped LA to a 30-20 victory that put them right back in the playoff race.
At 3-4, the Rams are just half a game out of first in the NFC West. The Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals are in a three-way tie for first place at 4-4, but a healthy Rams team could certainly make a run at the crown.
But what if the Rams got an offer they couldn’t refuse for Cooper Kupp? He’s 31 years of age and has missed time the last three seasons with injuries, so one can argue that GM Les Snead is better of trading Kupp while his value is high.
Logan Ulrich of NFLTradeRumors.co proposed a blockbuster trade idea that has the Rams sending Kupp to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick and wide receiver Calvin Austin:
“Adding more firepower on offense seems to be a clear goal for the Steelers in pursuit of Tomlin’s greater goals.
Kupp would be an interesting fit in Steelers OC Arthur Smith’s scheme. He’s at his best over the middle of the field and Smith’s offense this year has put a heavy emphasis on the sidelines, as both Fields and Wilson aren’t as adept attacking the middle of the field for differing reasons. But Kupp is an excellent blocker and has reliable hands, so there are ways he’d be able to fit in and contribute.”
The Steelers are 2-0 with Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback. They have football’s second-best scoring defense (allowing just 14.9 points per game), a star wideout in George Pickens and two stud running backs in Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris..
Pittsburgh is still looking to fill the No. 2 WR void after trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in the offseason. Adding another star wideout like Kupp could be the final piece to help Pittsburgh reach their first Super Bowl in 14 years.
Cooper Kupp Would Make Steelers The Chiefs’ Biggest AFC Threat
The Steelers have the pieces on defense (TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Joey Porter Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick, et al) to limit the Kansas City offense. But would Pickens, Harris and Warren be enough to help Wilson beat Patrick Mahomes in a playoff game?
The advantage goes to Kansas City for now, but an all-world game-changer like Cooper Kupp would close the gap between the two AFC powerhouses.