Rapoport: Cooper Kupp Should Have 'Really Strong Market' If Released by Rams

Even though teams don't seem too eager to trade for Cooper Kupp at his current salary, the veteran receiver figures to generate a lot of attention if he ends up getting released by the Los Angeles Rams.

Appearing on NFL Network's Free Agent Frenzy, Ian Rapoport said on Wednesday that Kupp should have a "really strong market" if he becomes a free agent.

Kupp announced on Feb. 3 he was informed by the Rams they were seeking to trade him immediately.

A trade has always seemed like a long shot given the money and cap hits on his current contract. He's owed $27.4 million in base salary over the next two seasons, with cap hits of $29.8 million and $27.3 million.

We will know within a few hours if the Rams can find a trade partner for Kupp. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Kupp will be released after the start of the new league year if no trade materializes.

The new league year officially begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Releasing Kupp will save the Rams $7.5 million against the 2025 cap. They could also use a post-June 1 designation that would increase their cap savings to $15 million.

Several teams have been mentioned as potential landing spots for Kupp, but most of them seem interested only as a free agent rather than trying to execute a trade.

Per Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado, the Dallas Cowboys are "very" much in the mix for Kupp if he's released. Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reported on Tuesday that Kupp is "curious" about potentially joining the New England Patriots.

Kupp has dealt with injuries over the past three seasons after his stellar 2021 that saw him win the receiving triple crown. The 31-year-old has missed 18 games since the start of the 2022 campaign.

In 12 games last season, Kupp finished with 710 yards and six touchdowns on 67 receptions. He has spent his entire career with the Rams since being a third-round draft pick in 2017.