MMQB: Cooper Kupp May Have Joined Matthew Stafford if Traded to Giants or Raiders

Cooper Kupp might have stayed loyal to his quarterback Matthew Stafford if he had been traded to the New York Giants or Las Vegas Raiders, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

However, 37-year-old Stafford chose to re-sign with the Los Angeles Rams, leaving Kupp on the trade island by himself.

With Stafford locked in with the Rams, Kupp’s future remains uncertain after he revealed that the team plans to trade him following his eight-year tenure with the Rams.

"I was informed that the team 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. I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA," Kupp wrote. 

Kupp played in 12 games for the Rams this season, averaging 59.2 yards per game—his second-lowest mark. He recorded six touchdowns on 67 receptions for 710 total yards, a far cry from his 2021 All-Pro season, when he averaged 114.5 yards per game and posted career highs with 16 touchdowns and 1,947 total yards.

However, McVay is still not closing the door on a Kupp return.

“I would never speak in absolutes,” McVay said, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times, When asked whether Kupp would remain with the team if a trade partner couldn't be found.

McVay also noted that making the choice to move on from Kupp was "the hardest decision" he has had to make since becoming head coach, per The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue.

The 31-year-old wide receiver has struggled with injuries since the Rams' Super Bowl LVI victory, playing in just nine, 12 and 12 games over the last three seasons, making it difficult for the team to commit to him long-term.