On Friday night, the Seattle Seahawks made waves by announcing the addition of former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp to their lineup. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal spans three years and is valued at $45 million, marking a notable investment in their receiving corps.
This move brings Kupp back to his Washington roots, addressing a critical need for the Seahawks as they parted ways with standout receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Hailing from Yakima, just around 140 miles from Seattle, the 31-year-old Kupp returns to familiar territory. He first showcased his talents at Eastern Washington before being scooped up in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Rams. Kupp’s release came earlier this week when Los Angeles, unable to secure a trade, ended his eight-year stint with the team.
Upon hearing the news, Kupp took to social media, sharing his excitement: “Washington back across my chest. Let’s go!!!!!” It was clear he was ready to embrace the next chapter of his career.
Kupp’s signing is just a part of Seattle’s sweeping overhaul of their offensive strategy. Under these changes, they traded quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and brought in Sam Darnold as a replacement. While Lockett was released, Metcalf found a new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A Super Bowl LVI MVP, Kupp now shares the field with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who shone brightly with 1,130 yards last season.
Drafted in 2017 during Sean McVay’s inaugural draft class, Kupp quickly established himself as a premier slot receiver. Impressively, his rookie year ended with 62 receptions, climbing over 90 in both his third and fourth seasons. However, it was 2021 that proved to be his breakout year. He dominated the NFL by leading in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), and receiving touchdowns (16), claiming the rare “receiving triple crown.” That stellar year brought him both a Pro Bowl nod and the prestigious NFL Offensive Player of the Year title. His outstanding performance in the Super Bowl against the Bengals, capturing eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns, secured him the game’s MVP award.
Despite inking a significant three-year, $80.1 million extension post his Super Bowl success, injuries shadowed Kupp over the following years. Since his phenomenal 2021 season, he managed just 33 game appearances. In 2024 alone, Kupp played 12 games, recording 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns.
After expressing a preference to remain with the Rams, he revealed their intent to trade him. However, given the hefty $20 million owed in 2025, no trade materialized, leading to his eventual release.
Over his career, Kupp has impressed with 634 receptions, accumulating 7,776 receiving yards and securing 58 total touchdowns.
Sarah Barshop of ESPN additionally provided insights for this report.
