Cooper Kupp could solve the Bengals' Tee Higgins problem

The sports world was shocked to learn a second Los Angeles player will be traded away soon.

Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp announced in a post on X Monday that the team is planning on trading him "immediately."

Where Kupp lands is a mystery at this stage, but there is going to be no shortage of suitors lining up for his services.

One team in particular may have been given a last-minute lifeline to solve one of its biggest problems that's been lingering since last offseason.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is expected to hit the open market on March 12 when free agency opens, but perhaps, the team could proposition Los Angeles before then for a potentially unique exchange.

Higgins would have to agree to a "sign-and-trade" where he negotiates with Los Angeles to be paid his worth (currently valued at $24.5M per season) and Cincinnati adds a deadly No. 2 receiving option for quarterback Joe Burrow in return.

Kupp's current deal expires after the 2026-27 season. He's owed $12.5M next season and $14.85M in 2026 which would be a discounted salary compared to what Higgins will be demanding.

However, the only snag in a straight-up swap deal would be Kupp's salary cap hit which is a hefty $29.78M in 2025.

That's where Cincinnati may require Los Angeles to retain some of Kupp's salary or bonuses to ease the pressure on the team's salary cap. The Rams currently have just over $3M in space compared to the Bengals ($49.7M) but that could become more malleable with Kupp officially off the books.

There's also the solution (albeit complicated) of adding a third team to the mix to broker any of the financial issues.

This scenario could wind up being fantasy in the end but at this point, all options may be heard when a star player such as Kupp is available.