Who wants to trade for an expensive wide receiver, nearing his 32nd birthday, who hasn’t played a full regular season since 2021?
Well, the New England Patriots should.
Now that we have the downside and complaints about Cooper Kupp out of the way, let’s explore why bringing him to Foxborough is actually a pretty sensible idea.
New England’s wide receiver room is down bad. While the Patriots’ offensive line bore the brunt of criticism last season, the receivers deserved almost as much blame for the offense’s standing in the league basement in every meaningful statistic. Their routes and spacing were absurd, their in-game awareness was nonexistent, and their hands? Unsuitable. As a unit, they appeared immature on and off the field. Kayshon Boutte excepted, no one improved in 2024.
Cupp, whom the Rams informed would be traded earlier this week, would be New England’s most competent and reliable receiver the moment he stepped into the building. He’s versatile, able to line up in the slot as well as outside the numbers, and he’s an increasingly rare commodity: a blocking receiver.
That might not seem like a meaningful attribute when shopping for prolific pass catchers, but given the sorry state of New England’s pass protection last year, it’s a nice bonus. He’s also surehanded. On 100 targets last season, he only drooped two.
He could provide the leadership necessary to the Patriots’ young receiving corps. Cupp won Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 for his 1,947-yard season with the Rams and also holds the most receptions in a single season (145) in the franchise’s history. He’s a Super Bowl champion. He’s walked the walk, and could provide instant organization to a group that’s more used to talking the talk.
Listen to how Rams receiver Puka Nacua described his relationship with Kupp to Athletic reporter Amos Morale III:
"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 said. “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.
Nacua added, "It's been so exciting and such a blessing to be able to be behind him.”
Finally, Drake Maye needs a reliable receiver in his sophomore season. He dazzled with deep shots to DeMario Douglas and Boutte last year, and surprised a lot of us with his poise and decision-making. The bar will be, and should be, higher after his rookie season. Maye tried to act as a human Band-Aid for the Patriots offense, but that disaster needed stitches. If the most recent conference championships taught us anything, it’s that turnovers can’t become a habit for any serious team. Cupp’s experience and talent make him Maye’s perfect security blanket.
Despite having missed 18 total games to various injuries since 2022, Cupp should have multiple suitors in the coming weeks. New England, with its trove of draft capital, is well-positioned to offer an enticing package to the Rams. If they could get Cupp for their fourth-round 2025 draft pick (107), they should move immediately. Wolf should be on the horn tomorrow. Given the state of New England’s roster and the bidding frenzy that a receiver like Tee Higgins will thrum up in free agency, it may even be worth parting with one of their third-round picks (69, or 77 via Atlanta) instead.
If that sounds like a high price tag, it should. It is. It reflects the reality of where the Patriots are as a destination for players. New England is on its second head coach in as many seasons, in a location with a high cost of living, and in the wee beginnings of a rebuild. Drake Maye looks like a great talent. So do CJ Stroud and Jayden Daniels. Welcome to the party.
Why not wait out the trade market and test the waters of free agency? Maybe because 2025 smells a lot like 2024, with one prestige receiver available, followed by a lot of other fellas also in their 30s, or likely to re-sign with their own teams. Higgins, for the record, hasn’t had the cleanest bill of health, either.
So 2025 Cooper Kupp may not be 2021 Cooper Kupp, or prime Randy Moss. This team isn’t the 2007 Patriots, either. They’d be lucky to swing this trade and add to their arsenal.