It's been noted throughout the NFL landscape that the Patriots had one of the worst wide receiver rooms in the league in 2024. One of the biggest offseason priorities for Mike Vrabel is to surround Drake Maye with more talent,, whether in free agency, the draft, or via trade.
Trade rumors are already starting to heat up throughout the league, with Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett demanding a trade from the Browns. Another veteran star, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, has also expressed his desire to move on.
Is going after Kupp, a former All-Pro and Super Bowl champion with the Rams, a logistical move for the Patriots? It would certainly be a start in upgrading the wide receiver room and giving Maye a veteran who has excelled in this league and won a championship.
There are also reasons the Patriots shouldn't pull the trigger on a trade for Kupp, the main one being his injury history. But here are the biggest pros and cons of pursuing a trade for Kupp
The pros and cons of the Patriots trading for WR Cooper Kupp
Pro - The Patriots need talent
Kupp is better than any wide receiver the Patriots have on their current roster. There's no question about that. Rhetorically, if they acquire Kupp and pursue further upgrades via free agency (Tee Higgins) or the draft (Travis Hunter), Kupp wouldn't be counted on to be the top man in the offense.
Frankly, his presence in the slot would take pressure off a potential deep threat such as Hunter or Higgins and open things up for the likes of Kupp, Kendrick Bourne, and DeMario Douglas inside. Kupp wouldn't have to be a 90-catch guy in New England.
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Con - injury history
Kupp hasn't played an entire season since 2021, when the Rams won the Super Bowl. He only played 12 games in 2024, catching 67 passes for 710 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers clearly indicate that Kupp, who will be 32 in June, has plenty left in the tank. But the Patriots need a guy who can stay on the field.
Pro - He knows how to win
The Patriots don't have many guys on their roster with championship pedigrees. Kupp would provide just that, which would be valuable to the locker room. He would also be a valuable voice to the young receivers, in particular Douglas, who has the potential to be another Julian Edelman or Danny Amendola if he continues to develop.
New England needs guys who know how to win games in January in its locker room, and Kupp is just that.
Con - Too expensive?
The Patriots enter the 2025 offseason with the most salary cap space in the league. They have plenty of money to spend. But acquiring Kupp won't come cheap, as he's set to earn $20 million this season and $19 million in 2026.
The Rams will likely want plenty of assets, and while the Patriots have the draft capital to make such a trade, you have to ask yourself is it worth it for a wide receiver in his 30's who hasn't played an entire season since 2021?