The Kansas City Chiefs are in urgent need of wide receiver help, and coincidentally, the Los Angeles Rams are shopping star receiver Cooper Kupp, as reported by The Athletic’s Dianna Russini on October 22.
According to Russini, “The Rams have reached out to several teams about trading former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp. They’re open to covering some of his 2024 salary and are looking for a second-round pick.”
This news sparked considerable chatter about the possibility of Kupp joining the Chiefs, two-time defending Super Bowl champions. Fans and analysts alike weighed in on social media, with one podcast suggesting that a move to Kansas City would be ideal for Kupp, allowing him to team up with the league’s top quarterback and pursue more championships, which could enhance his Hall of Fame candidacy. Another user noted that if the Chiefs acquired Kupp, they’d likely be championship contenders for the next few years.
Russini highlighted the Chiefs’ cap constraints during a segment on “The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz.” When asked about Kupp potentially joining Kansas City, she acknowledged that while the Rams are open to taking on some of Kupp’s salary, the Chiefs might still struggle to make the finances work. “They just don’t have enough money, even if the Rams take on some salary. That’s been the issue preventing them from pursuing players like Davante Adams or Amari Cooper.”
Currently, the Chiefs have about $4.3 million in cap space, while Kupp’s base salary for 2024 is $9.1 million. Although the Rams are willing to cover part of that salary, making a deal for a 31-year-old player who has missed 11 games since 2022 in exchange for a second-round pick poses a significant challenge for Kansas City. While Kupp remains a talented player, his ongoing injury issues make him a more risky, short-term option at a high cost.