Here's why Cooper Kupp could be an excellent fit in Vikings' offense
The Vikings reportedly have interest in the veteran wide receiver and it would be surprising if he didn't give serious thought to joining his former offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota.
While the Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings rumblings make little sense, there is a veteran on the market who would seem like an excellent fit in Minnesota.
Cooper Kupp was released by the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday — the first day of the NFL league year — after the team couldn’t find a trade partner for a wide receiver who had completed the first season of a three-year, $80.1 million contract he signed after a fantastic 2021.
Kupp had 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns — all led the league — that season, earning Pro Bowl, All-Pro and NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. Kupp then led the league in the same categories in the postseason (33 catches, 458 yards and six touchdowns) as the Rams won the Super Bowl. He caught eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns to earn MVP honors in that game.
Injuries have stopped Kupp from coming close to repeating that success. He has played in 33 of 51 games over the the past three seasons, catching 201 passes for 2,259 yards and 17 touchdowns. He hasn’t appeared in more than 12 games in any one of those seasons.
So why should the Vikings be interested?
Because Kupp will turn 32 on June 15 and is at a point in his career where he could fit in nicely behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison as a No. 3 wide receiver. Kupp also would be reunited with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was the offensive coordinator when the Rams won the Super Bowl and runs an offense Kupp that knows well.
The Athletic reported that the Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars had expressed interest in Kupp.
Kupp was born in Yakima, Wash., and attended college at Eastern Washington, so signing with the Seahawks would put him closer to home. The Seahawks, however, have plenty of question marks. The Vikings strengthened an already excellent roster this week in free agency.
If Kupp is worried about playing time, there a few factors to consider. Two years ago, Jefferson missed seven games because of a hamstring injury and last year Addison missed two games because of an ankle issue. Addison also is facing a possible three-game suspension from the NFL in 2025 after being charged with two misdemeanors for allegedly driving under the influence last July in California.
Shortly after O’Connell was hired by the Vikings in 2022, Jefferson asked him why Kupp was so successful. O’Connell told Jefferson it’s because Kupp knew how to play every receiver position in the Rams’ system, so teams couldn’t count on him lining up in one spot. That inspired Jefferson to do the same.
Kupp might not see the ball as much with the Vikings — he was targeted 100 times last season with the Rams — but he would benefit from the attention that opposing teams pay to Jefferson.
O’Connell knows exactly what Kupp can do and also is aware that current No. 3 wide receiver Jalen Nailor was charged with four dropped passes last season, while Kupp had only two.
Kupp’s biggest decision might come down to money, although he doesn’t figure to break the bank with any team. DeAndre Hopkins, who is a year older than Kupp and was once a star wide receiver, signed a one-year, $5 million free agent deal with the Baltimore Ravens this week.
Kupp could look for a larger deal but the opportunity to play for O’Connell on an excellent team might be too good to pass up.