Why Rams adding WR Davante Adams could make Cooper Kupp more expendable

From a financial perspective, keeping both wideouts doesn't make sense. 

Kupp — whom the Rams placed on the trade block on Feb. 3 — has a $29.78M cap number in 2025, via Over the Cap. He is also owed a $7.5M roster bonus by March 16, $5M of which is guaranteed on March 15.

Adams may be an upgrade over Kupp.

In 14 games with the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets in 2024, Adams ranked 18th in the league in receptions (85), 18th in receiving yards (1,063) and tied for 13th in touchdown catches (eight). 

Keep in mind that Adams played most of last season with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who tore his Achilles in 2023. The 32-year-old's numbers should improve with a healthier QB in L.A.'s Matthew Stafford. 

Kupp, meanwhile, had 67 receptions for 710 yards and six TD catches in 12 games. Over the past three seasons, the 31-year-old has struggled to stay healthy, missing 18 regular-season games because of ankle and hamstring injuries. 

On a Thursday episode of NFL Network's "The Insiders," Ian Rapoport said he expects the Rams to release the Super Bowl LVI MVP if they can't trade him soon. 

According to Over the Cap, the Rams would yield $15M in cap savings but incur $14.78M in dead cap if they released Kupp with a post-June 1 designation. 

If Adams proves to be the missing piece in the Rams' Super Bowl puzzle, moving on from Kupp would be the right move for the club.