NFL Exec Says Rams Replacing Kupp with Davante Adams is a Risk but Slight Upgrade

After Cooper Kupp dealt with a series of injuries over the past three seasons following his historic 2021 season, the Los Angeles Rams replaced him in the offseason with Davante Adams in a move that was largely praised around the NFL.

Speaking to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, one league personnel evaluator didn't sound as high on replacing Kupp with Adams as most analysts even though they acknowledged it as a "slight upgrade" for the Rams.

"Sean [McVay] can get really creative with him, because he's that classic outside receiver with size that you can also slide inside," the personnel evaluator said. "It's a risk because Kupp was so good there for so long. But I see this as a slight upgrade."

The initial returns from Adams' early work with the Rams has been very positive. He told reporters last week he feels "rejuvenated" after feeling lost in the weeds the past couple of years.

Adams, who signed a two-year, $44 million contract in March, also praised Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for his timing and ball-placement on throws that will allow him to maximize his talent at this stage of his career:

"It makes it easy for a guy like me, because I’ll run a route and expect that I’m supposed to run out of (it) a little bit quicker, maybe I had to dive to catch it or something like that, and he’s saying ‘that’s on me, I’ve got to put it on you’ versus telling me that I have to do it a different way. Which I’m completely OK with, too! I’m the new guy here. A lot of times that’s how I look at it anyway. ‘How can I make (things) better?’ versus, ‘put a better ball on me.’ As long as he’s throwing me the ball, I’ll figure out a way to get it. (But) him being a man like that obviously helps this whole thing go a lot smoother and us get on the same page a lot faster."

Despite being six months older than Kupp, who was released in March after eight seasons with the Rams, Adams hasn't really shown many signs of slowing down. He's coming off a 2024 season with 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games between the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets.

The Rams' situation is much more stable to take advantage of what Adams can do. Head coach Sean McVay is arguably the best offensive play-caller in the league. Stafford is still capable of making throws that very few quarterbacks would even think to attempt.

When you combine that with the fact Adams has been more durable than Kupp over the past three seasons, it's hard not to be optimistic about Adams and Puka Nacua being one of the best receiver duos in the NFL for the Rams in 2025.