Cooper Kupp Trade Would Be Pipe Dream For Desperate Patriots

Cooper Kupp reportedly could be on the move, but Patriots fans probably shouldn’t hold their breath thinking New England is in discussions.

According to The Athletic on Tuesday, the Rams called multiple teams about trading star wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Los Angeles indicated it would take on some of the Super Bowl LVI MVP’s salary and is seeking a second-round pick.

Kupp is exactly what the Patriots need. He’s the perfect No. 1 wide receiver for Drake Maye. He’d be an adult in the locker room and has championship pedigree. Also, he’d be reunited with Eastern Washington teammate Kendrick Bourne.

However, it feels unlikely.

No, it’s not because New England is allegedly “cheap.” It offered a significant amount of money to Calvin Ridley. The Tennessee Titans made a higher offer, and they’ve yet to reap the benefits near the midway point of the season. The Patriots were willing to make Brandon Aiyuk one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL, but the star wideout didn’t want to play in Foxboro, Mass.

There’s evidence New England would take on Kupp’s salary, but it’s more likely the Rams do right by Kupp and try to trade him to a contender. The 31-year-old has been one of the pillars of the franchise, and he’s one of Sean McVay’s favorite players. It would be strange for LA to just dump Kupp to a losing team.

The Kansas City Chiefs were the immediate team brought up after the trade report, assuming they can make the salary work. And there are other contending teams Kupp can help immediately assuming he stays healthy.

New England is desperate for weapons on offense, but if the Rams’ goal is to trade Kupp to a contender, the Patriots will have to look elsewhere for upgrades to support Maye.