Why Rams let Cooper Kupp leave for Seahawks in free agency

The Los Angeles Rams decided not to keep Cooper Kupp around.

It could loom large in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, because Kupp now plays for the Seattle Seahawks, the team opposing the Rams with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line.

Kupp was a superstar receiver in his prime for the Rams.

Now, he's the WR2 for the Seahawks.

He doesn't make as many plays as he used to, but Kupp's blocking and strong hands make him a solid weapon still for Seattle.

We'll see if Los Angeles has any regrets.

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Why did the Rams let Cooper Kupp leave for the Seahawks?

The Rams spent the early portion of this offseason exploring a trade for Cooper Kupp. No one made a suitable offer.

Rather than keep him around, they released him.

That set the Seahawks up to sign Kupp as a free agent. He's helping to replace DK Metcalf, who was traded to the Steelers.

Kupp is from Yakima, Washington, so this was a chance to go back home.

"It is a full circle moment for sure," Kupp told NFL Network. " It has been cool. Seeing the community here, the people we know here already, really looking forward to just being able to move up here and get the family up here, just really cool, full circle moment.

"There was a lot of things that went into that. A longer process than I think we thought it would be. But I think one, we want to be able to win. We wanted to go somewhere we thought we could go and pursue a championship."

The Rams brought in veteran Davante Adams to help replace Kupp. Adams has been a great complement to Puka Nacua for QB Matthew Stafford.

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Cooper Kupp stats with Rams

Kupp was originally a third-round pick by the Rams in 2017 out of Eastern Washington.

In his eight-year career with L.A., Kupp had 634 catches for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns.

His best season was 2021 -- 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns.

He had 67 grabs for 710 yards and six TDs in 2024.

This season with Seattle, Kupp made 47 catches for 593 yards and a pair of touchdowns during the regular season.

In the playoff opener against the 49ers, Kupp had five catches for 60 yards.

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