Rams cut Kupp....

[Spohawk5092]

should the Hawks consider? He has been prone to injuries, BUT who hasn't after the last couple of years.

[NorthHawk]

Injuries are concerning for Kupp so it would be a fairly big gamble, and JSN already plays a similar role, but he’s a master in the Shanahan style of Offense.

[trents]

If the price was right . . .

[Spohawk5092]

This from The Sporting News:

The Seahawks entered a period of transition this offseason, parting ways with first-team fixtures Geno Smith and DK Metcalf in return for a treasure trove of draft capital.

Seattle doesn't look to have any interest in rebuilding, bringing in Sam Darnold on a three-year, $100.5 million deal. What better way to fortify that investment than landing a steady target like Kupp?

Kupp proved his worth as a No. 1 during his time in Los Angeles. But as a slot-first pass-catcher, he's also more than capable of lurking in the shadows as a No. 2. With Metcalf away, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is slated to field the lion's share of targets from Darnold in 2025. But he'll need some help. Kupp is a wily veteran who can help Smith-Njigba develop while serving as a safety blanket of sorts for Darnold. He'd also get a chance to play against his former employers twice a year, an enticing proposition to be sure. Mix in the prospect of a return to his Pacific Northwest roots, and it's easy to see the appeal of a Kupp-Seahawks partnership.

[Spohawk5092]

I say go for it.....could be a gamble yes, but so is Darnold.....sign him.

[4XPIPS]

I say sign him, and Kyle Jusyczyk and stick it to the rivals.

[River Dog]

Kupp is a local favorite, a native of Yakima and an EWU grad, so it would be a homecoming of sorts for him so he might give us a hometown discount. In 2021, he had what was arguably the best season ever for a WR, winning the triple crown (receptions, receiving yards, TD's) and the SB MVP. But he hasn't done much since, battling injuries and lost his #1 status to Puka Nacua.

He could make a good pairing with JSN. Kupp is an experienced route runner and would make a good pairing with JSN. He would be an upgrade over what Lockett was able to contribute last season. I'm good with bringing him in under a team friendly contract.

[jshawaii22]

"Team Friendly" is an interesting term... According to NFL Network, within 10 minutes of the news he was cut Kupp's phone was ringing off the hook. Now, whatever that means, he is probably NOT going to go to a team with a 'friendly' deal. It's just not what the players are doing right now. However, he may come with the incentive to play the Rams twice a year and his connections the PacNW.

[Spohawk5092]

just read where Dallas is pushing to sign him. If the Hawks let him slip through their fingers, I won't be a happy camper.

[TriCitySam]

Schefter has backtracked, now saying that Dallas is not a likely landing spot for him. Not sure about him, I suppose for me it depends if we can get him pretty reasonable.

[Spohawk5092]

Schefter has backtracked, now saying that Dallas is not a likely landing spot for him. Not sure about him, I suppose for me it depends if we can get him pretty reasonable.

I just read the latest. Seems he wants from about $13-14 million a year contract......this is holding up talks BUT the Seahawks are still saying they are VERY INTERESTED in him. Decision expected today.

[jshawaii22]

I say try to get Lockett back. He said he would be interested in returning. I think he'd be a good fit back in the system and may come in for less then Kupp, but I don't know.

[Spohawk5092]

looks like the Pats have backed off their interest.......

[Stream Hawk]

Kupp is coming home! https://bsky.app/profile/ourturffb.com/ ... env4wmqs23

[Spohawk5092]

Kupp is coming home! https://bsky.app/profile/ourturffb.com/ ... env4wmqs23

Yes!!!!! Best news of the week IMO. I am stoked......

[c_hawkbob]

Looks like 3 years $45M, very pleased!

Former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp has agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday

[trents]

If we can keep him on the field he has some game left in him, I think. Health questions abundant, though. A "feel good" signing, maybe. Also, he's a slot receiver, not a down field threat. He's basically competing with SN for the slot position. But maybe SN has enough speed to transition to wideout.

[HawkSis]

I wanted the hawks to draft Kupp back in the day and have admired him since. Hoping he can stay healthy, I’d love to see him play 17 or more games.

[Stream Hawk]

He has probably been my favorite non-Seahawk for the last several years. Of course I had him in fantasy most of those years, so that’s easy. But what he did in 2021 was freaking generational. And that Super Bowl; I’ve never seen someone play with better heart. I imagine Kupp will do his best to shine in his home state. LFG

[c_hawkbob]

If we can keep him on the field he has some game left in him, I think. Health questions abundant, though. A "feel good" signing, maybe. Also, he's a slot receiver, not a down field threat. He's basically competing with SN for the slot position. But maybe SN has enough speed to transition to wideout.

I don't see him as competing with JSN, I see him as stepping in for Lockett.

[jshawaii22]

Not bad for a quick receiver room changeover. I think that picking up MVS as a downfield threat is an under the radar great signing and who cares if Kupp or JSN plays inside or outside or stacked... This could be really interesting if they all stay healthy and Fant/Barner continue to produce.
And supposedly we have the OC that can actually design plays that work and all weren't from the "old" Pete's Seahawks playbook we used last year because, I assume, Metcalf can't learn new routes.
Now, JS please fix the OLine. You have 5 early picks that usually have some guards and centers that aren't primary picks for other teams.

[NorthHawk]

Not bad for a quick receiver room changeover. I think that picking up MVS as a downfield threat is an under the radar great signing and who cares if Kupp or JSN plays inside or outside or stacked... This could be really interesting if they all stay healthy and Fant/Barner continue to produce.
And supposedly we have the OC that can actually design plays that work and all weren't from the "old" Pete's Seahawks playbook we used last year because, I assume, Metcalf can't learn new routes.
Now, JS please fix the OLine. You have 5 early picks that usually have some guards and centers that aren't primary picks for other teams.

It's the same old pattern in FA for Schneider. Ignore the good players in FA and if the pattern continues he won't take a good Interior Lineman until the late 4th or 5th round. I don't expect him to take one in the first 3 picks and I hope I'm wrong, but along with others on this forum we've hoped for the better part of a decade it would change but it hasn't.

Regarding Kupp, he will be a real good resource for JSN to pick up the Offense and the nuances of the system. Maybe they can become a good tandem like Kupp and Nacua were.

[River Dog]

If we can keep him on the field he has some game left in him, I think. Health questions abundant, though. A "feel good" signing, maybe. Also, he's a slot receiver, not a down field threat. He's basically competing with SN for the slot position. But maybe SN has enough speed to transition to wideout.

Yeah, that's big 'if'.

Kupp will basically fill the role that Tyler Lockett has played for the past few years. I don't think there will be any problem fitting him into our offense. They obviously have a plan for him.

Kupp has always been as slow as a sloth, so his skill set doesn't diminish with age as fast as WR's that depend on their speed to get open. You can't lose what you ain't got. I like the signing so long as we can keep him on the field.

[Aseahawkfan]

Injury prone WR when Lockett was available? Not sure why we did this. Probably could have gotten Lockett cheaper for similar production.

[Agent 86]

Injury prone WR when Lockett was available? Not sure why we did this. Probably could have gotten Lockett cheaper for similar production.

Takes two to tango as they say. You really think Lockett wants to come back to Seattle after being released? I have to think not, he is ready for a new chapter as most players or people would be after being released.

[Spohawk5092]

Injury prone WR when Lockett was available? Not sure why we did this. Probably could have gotten Lockett cheaper for similar production.

gamble, just like signing Darnold was. Could payoff, might not. Will see. Personally I like it.

[River Dog]

Injury prone WR when Lockett was available? Not sure why we did this. Probably could have gotten Lockett cheaper for similar production.

Lockett's production has really fallen off over the past few years, especially last season when he caught just 49 passes for 600 yards and just 2 TD's in 17 games. Kupp's per game production is still very good. If all things are equal, Kupp is the better receiver.

As Spohawk said, it's a gamble due to his injury history, but they must have felt pretty good about his health to have offered him a contract.

[TriCitySam]

Kubiak wants WR to block, and Kupp is pretty good I that department.

[NorthHawk]

Kubiak wants WR to block, and Kupp is pretty good I that department.

That’s a good point. Complete (for a lack of a better term) WRs are rarely dominating players. There are some good ones but it’s not the norm.

[Aseahawkfan]

Lockett's production has really fallen off over the past few years, especially last season when he caught just 49 passes for 600 yards and just 2 TD's in 17 games. Kupp's per game production is still very good. If all things are equal, Kupp is the better receiver.

As Spohawk said, it's a gamble due to his injury history, but they must have felt pretty good about his health to have offered him a contract.

15 million a year better than Lockett? I'm doubtful.

[Oly]

15 million a year better than Lockett? I'm doubtful.

I'm doubtful Kupp is getting 15 million a year. Sure, that's the sticker on the contract, but I'd bet that the real cost without the top-tier escalators is much, much lower.

[Aseahawkfan]

I'm doubtful Kupp is getting 15 million a year. Sure, that's the sticker on the contract, but I'd bet that the real cost without the top-tier escalators is much, much lower.

He hasn't last a full season since 2021. His stats are with Stafford throwing to him, not Darnold.

Lockett had a bad year last year, but other than he's better and more reliable than Kupp since 2021 when Kupp had that outlier year.

[River Dog]

Lockett's production has really fallen off over the past few years, especially last season when he caught just 49 passes for 600 yards and just 2 TD's in 17 games. Kupp's per game production is still very good. If all things are equal, Kupp is the better receiver.

As Spohawk said, it's a gamble due to his injury history, but they must have felt pretty good about his health to have offered him a contract.

15 million a year better than Lockett? I'm doubtful.

It's about the same as what Lockett was scheduled to make, and Kupp has a far greater ceiling. Even considering that Kupp missed a ton of games, he still was more productive than Lockett.

As has been discussed, it is a risk, but not a huge one. We still have plenty of cap space, so we can afford it. I would have preferred that we had gone after one of the top OL's, but that ship has sailed.

The fact that it'll be Darnold throwing to him instead of Stafford? All I can say is that Darnold was Kubiak's guy, and he must have a plan as there were other QB's out there to choose from. Kupp is a sharp guy (as are all EWU grads ), and is a great route runner. I'm excited to see what this new offense will look like with him in it.

[NorthHawk]

They are going to have to go to a quick pass game because after the last couple of games by Darnold the book on him is get pressure and with the expected poor performing OL, well...

[Stream Hawk]

I think the OL will be much better than expected. For instance Jenkins will probably be signed tomorrow and he is good in this scheme. We will have a ton of draft capital to address the interior of the line. Plus improvements with schemes of Kubiak, general improvement in coaching, and leaps in 2nd years of Haynes, Laumea, and Sundell, etc.

[NorthHawk]

I think the OL will be much better than expected. For instance Jenkins will probably be signed tomorrow and he is good in this scheme. We will have a ton of draft capital to address the interior of the line. Plus improvements with schemes of Kubiak, general improvement in coaching, and leaps in 2nd years of Haynes, Laumea, and Sundell, etc.

After more than a decade of hoping and being disappointed, I’m not getting my hopes up.

[Stream Hawk]

Fair point. But I’m cautiously liking the direction and believing in some hope for a bright future. I think we’ve actually been addressing the line more than most are giving credit for. Haynes was supposed to be top OG in draft last year by many. He still could work out with this new scheme. Let’s see what happens tomorrow, the rest of free agency, and the draft.

[River Dog]

Fair point. But I’m cautiously liking the direction and believing in some hope for a bright future. I think we’ve actually been addressing the line more than most are giving credit for. Haynes was supposed to be top OG in draft last year by many. He still could work out with this new scheme. Let’s see what happens tomorrow, the rest of free agency, and the draft.

I'm in this boat. Yes, we've discounted the OL for far too long, especially the IOL, and JS has to accept at least some of the blame for it. But he was a subordinate to Pete, so we really don't know exactly where he stands on the matter. This is his 2nd offseason that he's had outside of Pete's shadow, so I'm still in a wait-and-see mode.

What I'm hoping is that JS has his eyes on at least one really good prospect who can contribute immediately that he thinks he can pick up in the draft, which would explain his relative ignorance of the problem so far during free agency. We'll see.

[NorthHawk]

JS said Guards are overdrafted and overpaid. That’s not Pete Carroll. By his lack of concern with the Center spot, we can infer he thinks the same for all IOL. I seriously doubt that he drafts an IOL earlier than a late 3rd or 4th round after all the best are taken and the revolving door will continue to spin.

[Aseahawkfan]

JS said Guards are overdrafted and overpaid. That’s not Pete Carroll. By his lack of concern with the Center spot, we can infer he thinks the same for all IOL. I seriously doubt that he drafts an IOL earlier than a late 3rd or 4th round after all the best are taken and the revolving door will continue to spin.

A good GM analyzes their QB and drafts O-line accordingly. Guards may not matter when you have Russell Wilson in his prime, but they matter for Sam Darnold who tosses interceptions under pressure.