Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp expressed his commitment to playing football next NFL season but acknowledged uncertainty about his future with the team.
On Monday, during the Rams’ final open locker room session of the season, Kupp made it clear that he has no intentions of retiring.
“I feel like I’ve got a lot of good football left in me,” Kupp said. “I’ll be playing football next year. That much I know.”
Despite his desire to continue playing, Kupp also expressed that much of his future is out of his control. He addressed the rumors surrounding his status at the trade deadline, reaffirming that while he would love to remain in Los Angeles, he has no clarity on what the offseason holds.
“Who knows what’s going to happen,” Kupp added. “That’s out of my control. And we will see what it’s going to be… I don’t have any clarity on what that’s going to look like or anything like that. So yeah, obviously would love to be in L.A., but I don’t know what that’s going to look like.”
Kupp is under contract through 2024 after signing an extension in 2022, which included $5 million guaranteed for the 2025 season. If the Rams decide to move on from Kupp this offseason, they could save $15 million in cash and $7.52 million against the salary cap. However, if the Rams release Kupp without a post-June 1 designation, they would absorb $22.2 million in dead money due to prorated portions of his signing bonus and part of his roster bonus.
Kupp had a standout season in 2021, winning the receiving triple crown and being named Super Bowl LVI MVP. However, this past season was marred by injuries and inconsistency on offense. Kupp appeared in 12 games, recording 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns. He missed four games due to an ankle injury and sat out the regular-season finale after the Rams secured the NFC West title.
Reflecting on the season, Kupp admitted that it was “frustrating” at times, both personally and for the team. Although the Rams finished strong with a 10-4 record over their final 14 games after a 1-4 start, the offense struggled with consistency.
“There’s all these things you’re weathering through offensively, things that I feel like, man, we should be better than the product we’re putting out there in terms of the production and the points that are being scored,” Kupp said. “And then just for me personally feeling like, man, there’s things, I’m watching film, feeling good about football and playing, but production-wise it’s not showing up.”
Kupp’s frustration stemmed from his lack of impact in some games. In the Rams’ season-ending loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Kupp had five catches for 61 yards. In the five games prior, he had just 10 targets, five receptions, 82 yards, and no touchdowns.
“Obviously I want to be able to feel like I’m impacting games, and that’s done on a much more discreet level, I feel like, for a lot of these games,” Kupp said. “And that is what it is, but I can look back on the season and be happy with what I put on tape and things that I was being asked to do, feel like I was executing my job. And that’s all you can do.”
As the NFL offseason begins, Cooper Kupp’s future with the Los Angeles Rams remains uncertain, but his passion for the game and commitment to playing next season are clear. It remains to be seen whether Kupp will return to Los Angeles or if a potential move will be in store for him as the Rams face tough decisions in the months ahead.
