When the Minnesota Vikings hired Kevin O'Connell to be their head coach ahead of the 2022 season, the idea was simple: O'Connell comes from a Super Bowl team and he can use that experience to take the Vikings to their first.
That 2021 season for the Los Angeles Rams was excellent for a multitude of reasons. O'Connell was the offensive coordinator and, while he didn't call plays, was responsible for game planning and scheming to attack the defense every week.
Once they got Matthew Stafford in tow, the Rams took off, especially their passing game.
Could the Vikings trade for Cooper Kupp?
The 2021 season was special for the Rams because of the emergence of both Stafford and Cooper Kupp. They had a magical connection in their first year that vaulted Cooper Kupp to winning Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, while also winning the receiving triple crown.
On Monday night, Kupp sent out a tweet saying that the Rams are looking to trade him.
The Rams are in an interesting spot. They are halfway between winning now and rebuilding. Kupp is currently one of their biggest contracts on the books with a salary cap hit of $29,780,000. He is only behind Stafford, who is shortly under $50 million.
Since his incredible season in 2021, Kupp has only played in 33 regular season games, catching 201 passes for 2,259 yards, and 17 touchdowns. in none of those seasons did Kupp surpass 815 yards or play in more than 12 games.
His lack of availability is a major reason why the Rams are choosing to move on. Paired with the financial implications and his increasing age (Kupp turns 32 June 15th) are the likely reasons why.
This is where the Vikings come in. O'Connell was brilliant at maximizing Kupp's route-running ability. He and Odell Beckham Jr. were dominant down the stretch, leading the Rams to their second Super Bowl title.
The Vikings acquiring Kupp would be really interesting. While he isn't the same kind of athlete he was three years ago, Kupp is still a good slot receiver. The Vikings love to use condensed formations, so he could be a really valuable player in O'Connell's offense.
Now comes the interesting element. What would acquiring Kupp take? For starters, it would come with a $20 million salary cap hit. His base salary is $12.5 million and a $7.5 million roster bonus is due on March 15th. The Vikings currently sit with $58 million in salary cap space, so they could absorb that money. A trade would likely come with a revised contract, as only $5 million is fully guaranteed.
The other element would be in trade compensation. A player of his talent would likely bring in a third or fourth-round pick considering his age and contract. There is one other factor that needs to come into play: the Rams tend to make trades to help their players over themselves.
Jalen Ramsey should have gone for at least a first-round pick and then some. The Rams only received a third-round pick and backup tight end Hunter Long. It's not great in terms of building out a roster to take discounted trades like that. However, the Rams are viewed as very player-friendly because of it.
The Vikings could theoretically get Kupp for a discount in the same way. Possibly trading their fifth-round pick for Kupp and one of the Rams' sixth-round picks, as they own the rights to the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans' sixth-round picks.
There is one element involved here that could come into play. Jordan Addison could miss the first three games of the season if his legal matter is closed by then. Addison is currently charged with Driving Under the Influence in California stemming from a July incident. Having Kupp on the team would be a huge asset.
This wouldn't be the best use of resources, but a modified contract could elevate the Vikings' offense to another level, especially as J.J. McCarthy takes over as quarterback.
-1737129560-q80.webp "Is Nets' Cam Johnson playing vs. Lakers? Latest injury update")
