It turns out the Pittsburgh Steelers have had their eyes on Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp for months, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.
"The Cooper Kupp thing was interesting because during the season I heard about Cooper maybe being on the open market," Glazer said . "I called Sean (McVay) and he goes, 'No, teams have called. Like, the Steelers called, somebody else called, but they weren't offering a lot.'"
The Steelers went all-in for Brandon Aiyuk last season but came up short. General manager Omar Khan didn't have a solid Plan B, and they ended up settling with Mike Williams at the midway point of the season. So calling about Kupp is not too surprising.
Kupp is now on the trade block , and the Steelers have been tabbed as favorites to land the Super Bowl LVI MVP and 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year. The Steelers currently are tied for the fifth-best odds to land Kupp at +600, per DraftKings. The Denver Broncos (+500), Washington Commanders (+550), New England Patriots (+550) and Kansas City Chiefs (+600) are also in the mix.
RELATED: Steelers Receive Trade Price on Rams All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp in a game against the Washington Football Team at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on Oct. 11, 2020. — All-Pro Reels Photography
If a trade does come to fruition, the Rams could make life easier for the Steelers by eating some of his salary cap. NFL insider Ian Rapoport thinks that's a realistic scenario for L.A. if they want to deal Kupp.
"My understanding is the Rams are at least willing to eat some of the money, potentially paying down the $7.5 million signing bonus which, a lot of that is fully guaranteed for Kupp, maybe easing the burden on an acquiring team, maybe making a trade a little easier," Rapoport said.
Kupp, 31, has two seasons remaining on his contract with the Rams. He's owed $20 million in 2025 and $19.85 million in 2026. Only $5 million of that money is guaranteed.
So what would be the draft capital in a potential deal with Cooper Kupp? Adam Schefter of ESPN thinks he would go for a fourth-round pick.
"I think when you speak to people in the league, they see Keenan Allen go last year for a fourth-round pick and they believe that Cooper Kupp is in a similar situation," Schefter said on Postseason NFL Countdown .
Kupp is not the player he used to be and has had three straight seasons that have been impacted by injury. In 2023 and 2024, Kupp played in just 12 games while dealing with multiple ankle injuries and a hamstring issue. In 2022, he only played in nine games.
However, when healthy, Kupp has still proven to be a difference maker. Since being drafted by the Rams in 2017, he has amassed 634 catches for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns.
Jacob Camenker of USA Today thinks Kupp would be a perfect pairing with George Pickens .
"The Steelers were a potential landing spot for Kupp when rumors swirled around him ahead of the 2024 NFL trade deadline. His combination of slot skills and blocking prowess would make him a nice fit as a complement to George Pickens , a downfield, contested-catch receiver," Camenker wrote.
More must-reads:
