Former five-star Texas Tech Red Raiders tight end Baylor Cupp has been released by the Arizona Cardinals, ending a brief stint with the team just nine days after he signed.
Cupp, a 6-foot-6, 243-pound native of Brock, Texas, arrived in Lubbock in 2022 as one of the most highly touted transfers in recent Red Raider history.
Ranked as a consensus five-star prospect and the top tight end in the 2019 recruiting class out of Brock High School, he originally signed with Texas A&M. Injuries limited him severely with the Aggies, costing him two full seasons before he appeared in 10 games as a backup in 2021 with no receptions.
Seeking a fresh start, Cupp transferred to Texas Tech ahead of the 2022 season. In two years under the Red Raiders, he played in 24 games and recorded 23 receptions for 246 yards and four touchdowns.
He contributed steadily in the tight end rotation, providing size, athleticism, and red-zone presence while helping stabilize a position group that had high expectations.
His production—12 catches for 132 yards and two scores in 2022, followed by 11 for 114 and two more in 2023—showed flashes of the talent that once made him a national recruiting prize.
After declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, Cupp went undrafted and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent most of his rookie year on the practice squad, appearing in one regular-season game with limited snaps and one target.
Released by the Chiefs in 2025, he had a short preseason stay with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Dallas Renegades of the UFL in 2026. There he appeared in nine games, catching eight passes for 73 yards.
The Cardinals signed Cupp on Aug. 15 to help fill a tight end vacancy after placing Jameson Geers on injured reserve. His time in Arizona proved short-lived amid a flurry of roster moves that also included the release of wide receiver Bryson Green.
For Red Raider fans who watched Cupp battle through earlier setbacks and contribute in Lubbock, the latest release is another chapter in a professional journey marked by perseverance.
At 26, the former Texas Tech tight end remains a free agent with proven size, experience across multiple leagues, and the athletic tools that once made him a five-star prospect.
Red Raider Nation will continue to track his next opportunity as he seeks a more permanent foothold in the NFL.
