Sean McVay and Cooper Kupp arrived with the Los Angeles Rams in the same year, 2017. Since then, LA has had nearly consistent success, including winning a Super Bowl. McVay has a brilliant offensive mind and knew how to make Kupp an essential part of the machine. Now, though, Kupp plays with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams released the wide receiver after being unable to find a trade partner for Kupp. Going to Seattle made sense for the receiver as he is originally from Washington state. He grew up a Seahawks fan, and he will likely finish his career as a member of the team. He might be happy to be home.
But he might not be happy that the Rams gave up on him after the 2024 season. This was nothing personal, of course. The NFL is a business, and complex financial decisions must be made. Kupp had missed at least five games in the last three seasons, and he was over 30 years old. LA probably thought they had gotten Kupp's best years out of him.
New Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp might not be Rams coach Sean McVay's biggest fan
For Seattle's sake, let's hope that is not true. Plus, new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has a scheme that should fit Kupp well. He might not get nearly 2,000 yards receiving as he did in 2021, but he doesn't need to. He needs to be an important part of the machine, just as he was with the Rams for eight seasons.
The good thing for Kupp is that if he harbors any ill will toward the Rams organization, he will get to face them twice a year since Seattle and Los Angeles are NFC West rivals. Let's also hope that works out well for the Seahawks.
McVay would understand if Kupp was upset about being let go by the Rams. At the NFL meetings this week, he addressed the question about the receiver being released this offseason. The coach wryly confessed that Kupp might not be a massive fan of McVay or the Rams currently.
McVay said, "The one thing I do know that he knows is how much I appreciate him, how much I love him, and how grateful I am for the time we had, even if I’m probably not... he’s probably not my biggest fan right now... It doesn’t change the legacy, all the great things (and) more importantly the great person that he is, but we do have a responsibility to the (rest of the team) and it was what we felt like was the best decision for our football team moving forward."
Fair enough, and both McVay and Kupp know that the NFL is a tough business, especially when there are high-dollar contracts involved. Kupp was expensive, and the Rams needed to make room for other players. The Seahawks created a lot of cash by trading quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf. Signing Kupp was affordable.
Cooper Kupp might not have any hard feelings toward his former team, but that doesn't mean he won't be extra-motivated to play well against the Rams next season and beyond. Those should be some fun games.
More Seahawks news and analysis: