The first and only time Cooper Kupp set foot in Foxboro he set the Patriots’ defense ablaze.
Kupp snatched six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns last November over a tight Rams win, scorching the Pats from start to finish.
Now imagine if Kupp flipped sidelines, and lit that fire for the home team.
It might not be so far-fetched.
Kupp will be released at the start of the NFL’s new league year Wednesday afternoon, according to ESPN, if Los Angeles fails to trade him in the coming hours. The 31-year-old has been available since at least early February, when he announced on social media the Rams had informed him of their plans to trade him. As it stands, no team has been willing to acquire Kupp and his $20.5 million cap hit for next season, nor pay the $12.5 million guaranteed the Rams will owe him on his current deal.
Following a MassLive report that described the Patriots as non-suitors as of Feb. 28, it appears the receiver-needy Pats are unlikely to swoop in at the last minute.
But if Kupp springs free Wednesday, that could change.
According to a league source, Kupp is curious about the prospect of playing in New England and has shared that curiosity with some close to him. Kupp has personal and professional connections to Patriots, starting with ex-college teammate and fellow wideout Kendrick Bourne, who has repeatedly advocated for Kupp to come to New England on social media. The two remain friendly, sources say.
Kupp also played under ex-Rams assistant head coach Thomas Brown, who worked in Los Angeles from 2020-22 and now serves as the Patriots’ tight ends coach. Thus far, the Patriots’ free-agent class is littered with veterans, like Kupp, who previously overlapped with Mike Vrabel or his assistants; from new receiver Mack Hollins, who played for Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas, to outside linebacker Harold Landry, who suited up for Vrabel in Tennessee.
Connections aside, Kupp fulfills the mandate Vrabel has given his front office for free-agent acquisitions. Incoming players must fit his culture, be tough-minded and play with maximum effort and a fierce play demeanor. Around the league, Kupp is renowned for his work ethic and toughness. He’s also a five-time team captain.
If Kupp reaches the open market, his next destination will be harder to project than most.
Kupp already has a Super Bowl ring. He’s cashed in, amassing $93.5 million of salary over eight years with the Rams. He has connections across the league, including his former college receivers coach who just joined the Cowboys’ staff and would be wise to pursue a reunion.
Kupp expressed further championship aspirations in his farewell post to the Rams last month, but as D.K. Metcalf and Myles Garrett proved this offseason, money has a way of changing minds no matter what’s shared on social media.
“I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships,” Kupp wrote on Feb. 3. “I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA. Still, there’s one thing that I have learned over the years: there are so many things that are out of your control, but it is how you respond to these things that you will look back on and remember.
He continued: “2024 began with one of the best training camps of my career. Preparations start now for 2025. Highly motivated, as healthy as ever, and looking forward to playing elite football for years to come. Love you guys. But coming for it all.”
So here’s the bottom line: the Patriots should sign him.
If/when Kupp sets foot in Foxboro again, he will arrive as the Patriots’ best receiver in years. Even over a dozen games last season, when he totaled 67 catches for a pedestrian 710 yards and six touchdowns, Kupp still would have led the Patriots in all three categories.
Injuries have plagued him, no doubt. But Kupp’s efficiency numbers remain strong, starting with a No. 29 ranking by yards per route run in 2024 among qualifying receivers, per Pro Football Focus; putting him ahead of elite wideouts like Metcalf and Tyreek Hill. He also ranked 36th by that metric against man-to-man coverage; just behind Tee Higgins and two spots ahead of Metcalf.
The Patriots are devoid of wideouts who can beat man coverage consistently. Kupp can help there, while he mentors a young, immature receivers room full of recent draft picks. He’s more than just a fit — he’s a tailor-made quarterback and coach’s dream.
Somehow, after accounting for most of their free-agent signings in a $290 million splurge, the Patriots still lead the NFL in cap room, according to Over the Cap.
If they were reportedly willing to offer Chris Godwin around $25 million per year, as another receiver with an injury history who’s a year or two or a few past his prime, why not extend $12-$14 million annually on a two-year deal to Kupp?
Anyone?
Build this smoke back into a fire.
Get the deal done.