The Los Angeles Rams had a roller coaster of a season in 2024. Injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sent the Rams to a 1-4 start but their return helped them rebound to finish 10-7 and win the NFC West.
The emergence of rookie Jared Verse and a tenacious front seven also helped Los Angeles defeat the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs but like any team there are bound to be some changes in the offseason.
While some exits have already been rumored, there are a few that are more obvious than others and could lead Sean McVay’s team to look drastically different in 2025.
1. Cooper Kupp, WR
Kupp has been a foundational piece of the Rams offense since his arrival in the third round of the 2017 draft. The Eastern Washington product contributed immediately with 62 catches for 869 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season and had his true breakout in 2019, catching 94 passes for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Two years later, Kupp was a force in his first season with Matthew Stafford, winning the NFL’s Triple Crown for receiving, catching 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns to help lead the Rams to win the Super Bowl.
These moments give Rams fans some warm, fuzzy feelings but they don’t last for long in the NFL. Kupp hasn’t posted a 1,000-yard season since his triple crown campaign in 2021 and he’s missed significant time due to injury, missing 18 games over the past three seasons.
The 31-year-old may feel like he has some time left in the league but the Rams have the future in mind. Kupp revealed in a post on Instagram that the Rams are working to trade him “immediately” and Los Angeles likely wants to get out from the $29.7 million cap hit he’s set to earn next season.
Trading Kupp would be ideal as the Rams would save $12.5 million in a deal before June 1 and Los Angeles is even willing to eat part of his salary to make a trade happen. But his lack of production makes it more likely he’ll be released, leaving him as one of the top names on the receiver market.
Whether it be by cut or trade, Kupp has likely played his last game for the Rams ending the tenure of one of the greatest receivers in franchise history.