Patriots Country

Patriots Miss Out on Cooper Kupp

The Patriots won't be landing Super Bowl champion receiver Cooper Kupp
Kevin Sinclair|
Dec 28, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) ains 10 yards on a pass play before he is stopped by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Dec 28, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) ains 10 yards on a pass play before he is stopped by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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New England Patriots

Although New England Patriots fans have been positively overwhelmed by exciting free agent signings from Milton Williams to Harold Landry to Carlton Smith and beyond, the masses yearned for another big splash in the form of a Super Bowl champion pass-catcher. 

Cooper Kupp became available during New England’s spending spree, officially open to the market as of Wednesday. This came as a result of the Los Angeles Rams failing to find a trade partner earlier in the week. 

While the Patriots landed Morgan Moses to help keep Drake Maye upright in the pocket, what comes next is a big-time target for the young and promising quarterback to work with. 

Kupp is exciting on his own. When you add the specific need the Patriots have for a receiver like Kupp, the option becomes that much more enticing through the eyes of New England faithful. 

Unfortunately for those fans, Kupp will be headed to the opposite coast. 

Reported first by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport on Friday evening, the decorated receiver is headed to Seattle where he instantly projects as an inviting, reliable target for Sam Darnold. 

After all, the Seahawks recently lost DK Metcalf who is now a Pittsburgh Steeler. 

Kupp was phenomenal in 2021 for the Rams, leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16) as Los Angeles won the Super Bowl. 

Throughout his career, Kupp put together 634 receptions for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns over his eight seasons with the Rams. 

With Kupp locked up, Stefon Diggs and Amari Cooper are two of the most established remaining receivers in the free agency market. However, New England also boasts the No. 4 overall draft pick, the No. 38 overall selection in the second round, and a pair of third-round picks. 

Could the Patriots take a receiver with one of its first two picks? 

Will New England add one of the top remaining free agent receivers?

Perhaps both? 

Only time will tell, but Kupp became too pricey for a New England squad that spent handsomely on the defensive side of the ball this week.

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Kevin Sinclair
KEVIN SINCLAIR

Kevin Sinclair writes coverage of the Pitt Panthers along with the Baltimore Ravens, the New England Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Tennessee Titans for On SI. Previously, he was a recruiting reporter and managing editor at Irish Illustrated, the privately-owned Notre Dame site within the 247Sports Network, for over seven-and-a-half years. Kevin studied multimedia journalism and has been a sports writer for nearly a decade.

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