Puka Nacua Praises Cooper Kupp as a 'Mentor' and 'Leader' amid Rams Trade Talks

Cooper Kupp announced Monday on social media that he was "informed that the [Los Angeles Rams] will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships."

That doesn't come as the biggest surprise, as the Rams would have been on the hook for $20 million in 2025, a lot to pay a 31-year-old receiver who has missed 18 games over the past three seasons and has seen his production decline.

But if it is the end of the road for Kupp in Los Angeles, his teammate, Puka Nacua, is thankful for their time together.

"I think I've been blessed to be able to run to Cooper for these past three years, and he's been nothing but a mentor to me," Nacua told The Athletic's Amos Morale III. "You watch somebody who's detail-oriented, who's paying attention to the small details and the captain and leader of our team, somebody who communicates so well. It's been so exciting and such a blessing to be able to be behind him."

Nacua, 23, has clearly emerged as the Ram's top target in the passing game, registering 79 catches for 990 yards and three scores in just 11 games. That followed a 1,000-yard season in 2023 as a rookie, and his continue ascension into stardom is another likely reason for the Rams deeming Kupp expendable.

It remains to be seen if Los Angeles will actually be able to trade him, or if teams will abstain from taking on that contract and simply wait out the Rams, hoping they release him. Either way, Nacua will clearly be sorry to see him go.