Cooper Kupp Release Overview
Cooper Kupp was released by the Los Angeles Rams on March 13, 2025, after the team declined to place the franchise tag on the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver. The move cleared significant salary cap space and signaled a roster reset for the Rams heading into the 2025 NFL season. The release followed months of contract negotiations that broke down over pay structure and guaranteed money. Kupp, who led the league in receiving yards in 2021 and helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI, became a free agent upon release. The decision was driven by cap constraints and the Rams' desire to pursue younger, cost-controlled wideouts. More background on the Rams' salary cap situation can be found on the official NFL salary cap overview page at https://www.nfl.com/finance/cap.
Kupp's release was confirmed by the Rams' front office on social media and via a formal roster move filing with the league office. The Rams cited the need to create cap flexibility for incoming free agents and draft picks. General Manager Les Snead had previously indicated the team was exploring options to rework Kupp's deal before the release became the chosen path. The move placed Kupp on the waivers wire with a clear-out timeline for teams to claim him. No team claimed Kupp off waivers, making him an unrestricted free agent. The official Rams roster transaction log is available on the team's website at https://www.therams.com/news/cooper-kupp-released.
Contract and Cap Details
Kupp's previous contract extension with the Rams was a three-year deal signed in 2022 that carried a total value of approximately $80 million, with a significant portion structured as a signing bonus and roster bonuses. The deal included escalator clauses tied to receptions and targets that pushed his cap number higher in the final years. In 2025, Kupp's cap hit was projected to exceed $35 million, making him one of the highest-cost wide receivers on the Rams' books. The Rams calculated that releasing him would save them roughly $20 million in cap space for the 2025 league year. The contract details were reported by multiple outlets, including a breakdown on ESPN's NFL salary cap analysis page at https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/XXXX/cooper-kupp-contract-cap.
The franchise tag, which the Rams chose not to use, would have cost the team a first-round pick and a guaranteed salary near the top of the wide receiver market. By releasing Kupp instead, the Rams avoided the first-round draft pick forfeiture. The decision also reflected a broader trend in the NFL of teams moving away from long-term high-cost wide receiver deals. Kupp's production in 2024 showed a slight decline in yards per catch and target share compared to his peak seasons. The Rams' cap management strategy is tracked by salary cap analysts, and a detailed breakdown of the Rams' 2025 cap space was published on OverTheCap at https://overthecap.com/rams-cap-space.
Trade and Free Agency Timeline
Before the release, the Rams reportedly explored trade packages for Kupp with several teams, including the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers, but no deal materialized before the deadline. The trade discussions centered on draft compensation and salary retention, with the Rams unwilling to absorb most of Kupp's remaining contract. Once Kupp was released, he was immediately contacted by multiple teams interested