After a productive eight-year stint with the division rival Los Angeles Rams, Yakima native Cooper Kupp is coming home to play with the Seattle Seahawks.
What led QB Sam Darnold to sign with Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks’ agreement with the former Pro Bowl wide receiver last Friday was a cause for celebration for many in the Pacific Northwest who are familiar with the former EWU Eagles star. But there are some questions about how he’ll fit into Seattle’s receiver room – namely how he’ll coexist with 2024 breakout star Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Both Kupp and Smith-Njigba have done most of their damage as slot receivers, which there is only one of on the field in the three-receiver sets that are most commonly run by NFL teams. In 2024, Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 112 targets, 83 receptions and 993 receiving yards out of the slot. A whopping 87.8% of his receiving production and all but one of his six touchdowns came out of the slot, which he lined up in 83.6% of the time on passing plays, per Pro Football Focus.
Meanwhile, Kupp lined up in the slot 65.3% of the time on passing plays last year, finishing sixth in targets (73), seventh in receptions (50) and eighth in receiving yards (561) despite missing five games. And when he was at his best during fully healthy 2019 and 2021 seasons, Kupp finished second and first in the league, respectively, in receiving yards out of the slot.
So how will things shake out with Kupp and Smith-Njgiba in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s offense? FOX analyst and former NFL quarterback Brock Huard weighed in Monday during his Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.
“It’s gonna be fun to watch, and obviously the draft is gonna play a role in this,” Huard said.
The slot receiver typically lines up off the line scrimmage and inside of the split end (or “X” receiver), which is usually on the line of scrimmage on the outside of the formation. There’s also the flanker (or “Z” receiver), which lines up off the line of scrimmage out wide on the tight end’s side.
“We’ve seen Jaxon out there (as the flanker). He caught a big touchdown pass I believe on a Monday night (in 2023) against Philly from the great Drew Lock a couple years ago playing that flanker position,” Huard said. “So I think you will see more JSN there, and then you’ll see Kupp in his natural spot in the slot where he’s going to be physical and he’s going to block and he’s going to do all those things.”
Lock to JSN for the lead#ProBowlVote + @jaxon_smith1#ProBowlVote + @DrewLock23 pic.twitter.com/g26fYIaCdD
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 19, 2023
Kupp’s overall usage could be affected by other factors as well, one being how healthy he can stay (he’s missed 17 games over the past three seasons), and another being what sort of personnel Kubiak leans on.
The Saints used 12 personnel (which features two wide receivers and two tight ends) the seventh-most of any team last season at 30% under Kubiak, per Sumer Sports. The Seahawks were 24th at 16%.
“We got to see if they add a tight end as well. I’ve seen a bunch of these mock (drafts), and I would not mind a tight end out of one of these top 50 picks because there could be difference-makers,” Huard said. “… That probably gives Cooper Kupp an opportunity to play an entire season, and he doesn’t have to play 50, 60, 70% of the snaps. I don’t see (Kupp and Smith-Njigba coexisting) as an issue, especially in this kind of system where there’s going to be a lot of 12 personnel.”
Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
Seattle Seahawks news and analysis
• What Macdonald likes about Seattle Seahawks’ 3 defensive front signings
• Report: Seattle Seahawks sign former Saints cornerback
• Bumpus: What Cooper Kupp at 31 gives the Seattle Seahawks’ offense
• Seattle Seahawks reportedly will host OL Teven Jenkins – why he’d be a fit
• New Seahawks DE gets into beef with former teammate