When it was reported that the Rams were putting wide receiver Cooper Kupp on the trade market this offseason, the Patriots were a clear frontrunner to get a deal done for the simple fact that they have desperately needed an explosive player like the former Super Bowl MVP on offense.
Despite his massive contract potentially deterring them, they had the cap space to overlook and draft capital offer, only for the Rams to instead release Kupp due to no real trade offers before the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
The Patriots were immediately named as one of his top landing spots, with reports even claiming Kupp was intrigued by the idea of playing in New England. Things only progressed from there, with rumors claiming the team's interest had grown and some insiders suggesting a deal was imminent and could happen by week's end.
However, things have taken a dramatic turn for the worse with more teams getting on the phone to convince Kupp they're the team to sign with, on top of the Patriots seemingly falling off the list of contenders as the receiver's decision nears.
The Patriots have apparently backed off their pursuit of Cooper Kupp since becoming a free agent
Many new details have emerged regarding Kupp's next move, with NFL insiders adding more teams to the list of those interested in signing him to their roster. The newest teams have now moved to the top of the list, the Cowboys and Seahawks, but they're not the only ones making a push for Kupp.
That's not great news for a team like the Patriots, who aren't in the most ideal position to convince a prime free agent like Kupp to come to their team besides being able to offer the most money in a new contract. But it's even worse when they're now reportedly out of the running, at least according to the latest updates, which makes their roster needs even more significant with the draft nearing.
Understandably, there is a limit on how much they're willing to spend on specific positions or players, even in the case of Kupp, as he is nearly 32 years old and hasn't played an entire season since 2021. However, it's also hard to fathom why a team with a massive need at receiver wouldn't be willing to overpay right now for the caliber of player Kupp is when their offense needs him the most.
Maybe more will be understood once he signs a contract somewhere and Patriots fans will grow understanding of why the team passed on him.
But at the same time, Kupp is a player that would immediately boost the offense and become Drake Maye's primary weapon. Instead, they'll have to either pull off a blockbuster trade for the receiver they need or hope they strike gold in the draft.
UPDATE
Cooper Kupp will not be signing with the Patriots, as he signed a 3-year deal with the Seahawks on Friday.
Returning home: #Rams WR Cooper Kupp is expected to sign with the #Seahawks, per The Insiders. He’s likely to make $15M per year or more.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2025
Sam Darnold gets a new weapon, while the Yakima, WA native & Eastern Washington product lands 2 hours from where he played HS football. pic.twitter.com/Tcj33tidbl