Breaking news tonight: Cooper Kupp, the former Triple Crown winner, is reportedly on the trading block. The Rams wide receiver shared the news himself via social media Monday evening, adding fuel to the fire of NFL trade rumors. This marks the second high-profile trade request of the day, following Myles Garrett‘s request to leave the Browns.
As is typical, fans across the league are now speculating on which team might add Kupp to their roster. However, for the Minnesota Vikings, there are a number of reasons why the move doesn’t make much sense, both from a positional strength and salary cap perspective.
The Vikings do have a notable connection to Kupp. Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings’ head coach, was Kupp’s offensive coordinator during that legendary 2021 season, where Kupp posted 178 catches, 2,425 yards, and 22 touchdowns, arguably the greatest wide receiver season in NFL history. O’Connell, along with fellow coaching staff members Wes Phillips and Chris O’Hara, was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning season, and all of them witnessed firsthand the immense talent Kupp displayed at his peak.
Undoubtedly, the thought of pairing Kupp with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to form an electrifying trio of wide receivers is tempting for Minnesota. However, upon further examination, the idea seems impractical.
When evaluating the Vikings’ needs this offseason, wide receiver ranks fairly low on the priority list. With Jefferson locked in through 2028 and Addison’s fifth-year option available through 2027, the team’s receiving corps is already in good shape. Plus, Jalen Nailor—who impressed with six touchdown receptions last season—still has a year left on his rookie contract. Even a player like Trent Sherfield could be brought back on a low-cost deal.
Would Kupp be an upgrade over Nailor? Absolutely. But there’s a significant financial hurdle. Any team acquiring Kupp would be on the hook for $20 million in 2025 and nearly the same in 2026, factoring in base salary and a roster bonus. Considering Jefferson’s upcoming $35 million annual extension and Addison’s potential contract demands in the near future, it’s hard to imagine the Vikings committing to Kupp’s hefty price tag.
It remains to be seen if any team will trade for Kupp at his current contract terms, especially given his injury history and his decline since his record-breaking 2021 season. Turning 32 in June, Kupp hasn’t played more than 12 games or surpassed 812 receiving yards in a season since that historic campaign. While still dangerous when healthy, he’s no longer the elite separator he once was. If the Rams ultimately release him and Kupp is willing to sign a team-friendly deal to reunite with O’Connell and Jefferson, that might make sense for the Vikings. But why would Kupp do that? At this stage in his career, he’ll likely want to go to a team where he can be a No. 2 receiver and still make a substantial income.
In a similar vein, the prospect of the Vikings trading for Myles Garrett seems just as unlikely. Both wide receiver and edge rusher are already strong positions for the team, and there are other holes on the roster that require attention. While Garrett is a dominant player in his prime, acquiring him would likely necessitate a massive extension, which would stretch the Vikings’ financial resources—especially with Jefferson’s contract kicking in. Moreover, the Vikings don’t have the draft capital to make such a trade happen.
So, while the Vikings are expected to make some major moves this offseason, don’t expect Kupp or Garrett to be among them.
