The L.A. Rams placed WR on the trade block over a month ago, but it now seems the team will release the receiver on Wednesday unless there’s a last-minute change. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Rams are set to part ways with Kupp in two days, marking the end of his remarkable eight-year career in L.A., which included a Super Bowl win, Super Bowl MVP, and Offensive Player of the Year award.
The Rams signed Davante Adams on Sunday, which has effectively ended any speculation about how the team would add more weapons for Matthew Stafford after parting ways with Kupp.
As soon as Kupp was placed on the trade block in early February, I noted that a release seemed more likely than a trade.
If a team acquires Kupp’s $20 million, that alone makes him the 15th-highest paid receiver in the NFL in 2025. However, several players ahead of him will be released, traded, or take pay cuts. At the end of the day, Kupp’s $20 million would end up as a top-10 cap hit in the NFL, which is nowhere close to where he is as a player anymore.
Receivers around or over 30 are being phased out of the NFL unless they accept significant pay cuts, with Davante Adams being one of the rare exceptions. Kupp, at 32, was set to make $20 million, which is at least double what he’s worth on the open market. While some teams may consider Kupp a bargain, giving up anything— even a late-round pick— doesn’t make sense when they would still have to pay his $12.5 million base salary.
For the Rams, it didn’t make sense to pay more of his salary than necessary, especially considering they owe him a $7.5 million roster bonus, $5 million of which is guaranteed, just to get a sixth-round pick in return.
This move will save the Rams about $7 million in cap space.
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