Cooper Kupp makes a lot of sense for the Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best wide receivers in the NFL when it comes to All-Pro CeeDee Lamb. While that’s a great luxury to have for quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys don’t have much to feel positive about outside of Lamb. Yes, Jalen Tolbert had his best season, but it wasn’t enough to secure a WR2 spot. Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy are still trying to find their way in the NFL, and veteran Brandin Cooks is a free agent.
Dallas should certainly look to add some receiver help in April’s NFL draft, and ideally, it will be within the first few rounds. However, earlier this month, veteran Cooper Kupp was informed by the Los Angeles Rams that they would be seeking a trade immediately and will work with him to find his next destination. This is a situation that the Cowboys should get involved in.
Kupp fits a lot of what the Cowboys look for when they acquire free agents. He’s an older player at 31 years of age, and Dallas tends to lean towards veterans who have put a few miles on the tires, so to speak. Also, Kupp has missed 18 games over the last three seasons. The Cowboys have a history of bringing guys that fit that mold as well, hoping to get a bargain in free agency or draft/trade at a lower value because of injuries.
Another element that should entice the Cowboys to acquire Kupp is new wide receivers coach Junior Adams. He coached Kupp while he was at Eastern Washington and was an intricate part in getting him developed before the draft where he was taken in the third round by the Rams in 2017. This is the first NFL job for Adams, and getting a guy in the building who is familiar with what he does as a coach could make other guys comfortable with his style.
Despite missing a full season worth of games over the last three years, Kupp has still been pretty productive. He’s hauled in 201 passes for 2,259 yards and 17 touchdowns over that span. Kupp missed five games twice and eight games in the other season, so he would have likely had three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns had it not been for injuries. Being that he’s a little long in the tooth, pairing Kupp with a guy like Lamb will allow him to not have to be the top target, which could lead to a plethora of opportunities with the attention that the latter gets.
Of course, Kupp’s contract will play a factor in any negotiations. The former Super Bowl MVP has a base salary of $12.5 million in 2025 and $14.85 million in 2026. However, with $7.5 million roster bonus ($5 million guaranteed) next season followed by another $5 million the next year, those totals go up to $20 million and $19.85 million. To add to that, the Cowboys don’t have a fourth-round pick this year, which is the exact position they were in at this time last year. So, that hurts them when it comes to a possible trade as well.
They may have to do some finagling, but the Cowboys should certainly take a look at potentially bringing Kupp in. Plus, this move wouldn’t hinder the Cowboys from taking another receiver early in the draft, and they desperately need weapons on the outside.
