NFC West

It looks like Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has some unfinished business in the NFL.

Dan Graziano of ESPN reported that the 37-year-old is "likely to return to L.A. in 2025" and that the team is going to look for ways to lower Stafford's cap hit:

The past two seasons have been good for Stafford, who turned 37 on Friday and believes the Rams' leadership gives them the ability to contend every year. Something will have to be done with Stafford's contract, though, as was the case last offseason when the Rams slid $5 million of his 2025 money into 2024 and guaranteed him $40 million. Of that $40 million in guarantees, $4 million comes in the form of a 2025 roster bonus due next month. The rest of his 2025 compensation is a non-guaranteed $23 million. His current cap hit for 2025 is roughly $50 million, so look for the team to convert salary into bonuses again to lower the hit and move Stafford's 2025 compensation into a range more befitting of a good starting NFL quarterback.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN added that the Rams aren't "overly concerned" about the chances of Stafford departing for another team despite the issue of his contract and that the quarterback was "happy with the direction of the offense:"

Last summer's negotiation wasn't easy, and this year's could be even more difficult, considering his status as a top-shelf QB in a league starved for them. Stafford ranked 12th in QBR in 2024 (64.7).By all accounts, Stafford was happy with the direction of the offense this season, and multiple people with the team say it doesn't seem as if changes are coming. But other teams will inevitably call the Rams to gauge trade interest anyway. Stafford will be the top quarterback available if Los Angeles entertains the idea of moving him.

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app, homepage and social feeds—including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Kelly Stafford, the wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, does not believe trading star wideout Cooper Kupp is in her husband or his team's best interests.

"My husband wants to win. He's not trying to put his team in a bad situation," Kelly Stafford said on her podcast The Morning After.

She continued: "I will say the trading away of Cooper, I guess I'm just a little, I'm confused. Because we were one play away from going to the NFC Championship, and I think if we go, we win."

Kupp said in a Monday post on X that the Rams planned to trade him "immediately."

"I don't agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA," Kupp wrote.

Stafford and Kupp have played four seasons together. The duo led the Rams to victory in Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported last week that Stafford plans to return to the Rams in 2025, although Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported days later that Stafford could be available this offseason.

Kelly Stafford mentioned the trade rumors surrounding her husband on the podcast:

Right now, if the Rams decided that they wanted to trade him, or Matthew decided he didn't want to play for the Rams, I'm good. I would move my family. Yeah, that might be tough. First month, hard. After that, turns out, I like my kids to learn how to be resilient.

The ball's really not in our court in that. But I value being respected and wanted over convenience. So it would be very convenient to stay. Very easy. But if someone doesn't feel valued, then I'm like, let's hit the road. Let's go on an adventure.

I will say, we want to be here. but I'm not scared of going elsewhere, and I don't think he is, either.

Stafford previously addressed Kupp's pending departure in a Wednesday interview with CBS Sports.

"It's tough. I've been around long enough to know that anything is possible, but Cooper's been a pillar of this organization and this community for a long time, since he got drafted here," Stafford said (4:00 of the video below.)

Stafford continued: "Probably spent more time with Cooper Kupp than any other teammate I've ever had... I'll miss him not being on the same team."

The Rams advanced to the Divisional Round this winter before falling short in a 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

This time it was not Kupp serving as Stafford's top target but rather Puka Nacua, who led the Rams with 79 catches for 990 yards during his second NFL season.

Kupp signed a three-year extension worth up to $80 million after he led the NFL with 145 receptions during the 2021 season.

There is only $5 million in guaranteed money remaining on that deal, but the current structure of the contract carries cap hits of more than $27 million in both 2025 and 2026, per Spotrac.

With Nacua serving as the team's top receiver, the Rams would have likely needed to restructure that contract in order to retain Kupp. Any team trading for Kupp will likely do the same.

Stafford meanwhile has two years and $58 million remaining on his current contract, per Spotrac. He receives $4 million in guaranteed money if he is still on the roster as of March 14.

That could mean a decision regarding Stafford's future with the team will take place within the next month. Head coach Sean McVay said in January he would like to resolve Stafford's contract situation "sooner than later."

Cooper Kupp announced Monday on social media that he was "informed that the [Los Angeles Rams] will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships."

That doesn't come as the biggest surprise, as the Rams would have been on the hook for $20 million in 2025, a lot to pay a 31-year-old receiver who has missed 18 games over the past three seasons and has seen his production decline.

But if it is the end of the road for Kupp in Los Angeles, his teammate, Puka Nacua, is thankful for their time together.

"I think I've been blessed to be able to run to Cooper for these past three years, and he's been nothing but a mentor to me," Nacua told The Athletic's Amos Morale III. "You watch somebody who's detail-oriented, who's paying attention to the small details and the captain and leader of our team, somebody who communicates so well. It's been so exciting and such a blessing to be able to be behind him."

Nacua, 23, has clearly emerged as the Ram's top target in the passing game, registering 79 catches for 990 yards and three scores in just 11 games. That followed a 1,000-yard season in 2023 as a rookie, and his continue ascension into stardom is another likely reason for the Rams deeming Kupp expendable.

It remains to be seen if Los Angeles will actually be able to trade him, or if teams will abstain from taking on that contract and simply wait out the Rams, hoping they release him. Either way, Nacua will clearly be sorry to see him go.

The NFL is heading Down Under.

On Wednesday, the league announced a multiyear commitment to play in Australia with the first game happening in the 2026 season. The Los Angeles Rams will be the designated home team for that contest that will take place at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

"Expanding to Melbourne, Australia, a beautiful city with a rich sports history, underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in the announcement.

"Together with the Victorian State Government, Visit Victoria and the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and with the Los Angeles Rams in 2026, we look forward to making history in what is an important market for the NFL and a significant next step in expanding our international footprint."

While the Rams' opponent wasn't revealed, the league's announcement noted the Philadelphia Eagles share marketing rights in Australia with the NFC West team through the NFL's Global Markets Program.

The Global Markets Program was established in an effort to build more awareness for specific teams in different markets.

However, the Eagles are not one of the Rams' 2026 home opponents. Philadelphia is slated to host Los Angeles at Lincoln Financial Field two seasons from now.

This is the latest development in the NFL's ongoing efforts to expand the game internationally. It has featured 55 regular-season games overseas at hosts such as London, Munich, Frankfurt, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto.

It also has 2025 games scheduled in London, Berlin and Madrid.

Cooper Kupp will be on the move this offseason as the receiver revealed Monday that he was informed that the Los Angeles Rams intend to trade him.

Though Kupp's best days are likely behind him, he could be a great asset to a number of teams. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler broke down a handful of squads that might be interested in him on SportsCenter.

"As far as early teams that people are bantering about, the Pittsburgh Steelers looked into Cooper Kupp at the trade deadline last season; they still have a need there," Fowler said. "Washington could look for a compliment to Terry McLaurin. The Patriots would be foolish not to at least check on this given their receiver situation."

Fowler also noted the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions as potential landing spots.

As Fowler mentioned, the Steelers have a void at receiver. While they have a solid WR1 in George Pickens, they still haven't found a true second option. Kupp could certainly be that for Pittsburgh.

The Commanders are in a similar position as the Steelers. Terry McLaurin had another great year, collecting his fifth straight season with 1,000 or more receiving yards, but Washington's second-leading receiver was tight end Zach Ertz, who had 654 yards. Adding Kupp this offseason could give star quarterback Jayden Daniels another option as the Commanders look to get back to the NFC championship next year.

The Patriots arguably need more than just one receiver this offseason. New England has no true WR1, with tight end Hunter Henry leading the Patriots in receiving yards last season with 674. Kupp could join the Patriots and take over as WR1 and make life easier for young quarterback Drake Maye.

In Detroit, Kupp would likely have a lesser role as the Lions already have a pair of star receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Still, Detroit could be a desirable location for him given his relationship with quarterback Jared Goff, who he played with for four seasons in Los Angeles.

He'd be more likely to get more targets for the Chiefs, who don't necessarily have a top receiving option at the moment.

Kupp, who will be 32 by the start of next season, is just a few years removed from the best season of his career when he racked up 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, but he's dealt with a handful of injuries recently.

With the right team, Kupp could rejuvenate his career and put together a few more good seasons. He'll hope to find that team this offseason.

After Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp announced that he was informed of the team's intentions to trade him, many wondered about how his hefty salary could factor into negotiations.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that the Rams could help ease the burden, saying, "My understanding is the Rams are at least willing to eat some of the money, potentially paying down the $7.5 million signing bonus which, a lot of that is fully guaranteed for Kupp, maybe easing the burden on an acquiring team, maybe making a trade a little easier."

After Kupp revealed on Monday that he was informed that the Rams "will be seeking a trade immediately" and will work with him to find his next landing spot, ESPN's Adam Schefter noted that any team that trades for Kupp will inherit his $20 million salary for the 2025 season and his $19.85 million salary for 2026 unless his contract is renegotiated.

Kupp made it clear that he didn't force his way out of Los Angeles, but he handled the news in stride.

"I don't agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in L.A.," he wrote. "Still, if there's one thing that I have learned over the years: there are so many things that are out of your control, but it is how you respond to these things that you will look back on and remember."

Kupp has spent his entire career with the Rams since being drafted with a third-round pick in 2017. This past season, he was limited to 12 games for the second straight year and recorded 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns.

Kupp added in his announcement that he's "healthy as ever," so he should draw interest from teams seeking a difference-maker on the outside. If the Rams are willing to absorb his salary, teams shouldn't hesitate to add the 31-year-old.

The Los Angeles Rams are moving on from Cooper Kupp after the wide receiver spent eight years with the team.

In a social media post, Kupp revealed that the Rams are planning to trade him this offseason and will work with him to find a preferred location. He said he didn't agree with the decision.

Kupp's teammate, Puka Nacua, reacted to the news on social media:

Now, for the first time in his career, Kupp will join a new team. After he revealed the Rams' trade intentions, fans began debating where he would end up.

The teams interested in trading for Kupp will likely be revealed in the coming weeks, but for now, fans can only speculate about where he might land.

Kupp was a third-round draft pick to the Rams in 2017 and recorded 7,776 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns in his time with the team. His best season came in 2021 when he led the league in receptions (191), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16).

He helped lead Los Angeles to a championship in 2021 and was named Super Bowl MVP after he recorded 92 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the 2021 postseason with 478 receiving yards and six touchdowns in four games.

Since his outstanding year in 2021, Kupp has dealt with a number of injuries and has missed at least six games in each of the last three years. Because of the missed time, his production has slowed down tremendously and he's failed to have a season with more than 1,000 yards.

Wherever he ends up, Kupp will not only look to stay healthy but return to his former self. Kupp, 31, might be past his prime, but he can likely still make an impact on a handful of teams.

Star wide receiver Cooper Kupp's time with the Los Angeles Rams appears to be coming to an end soon.

Kupp announced on Monday that he was informed that the Rams "will be seeking a trade immediately" and will work with him to find his next team. Kupp added, "I don't agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end" in Los Angeles.

Fellow Rams receiver Puka Nacua provided a funny reaction to the news:

The Athletic's Dianna Russini noted that the Rams held trade discussions regarding Kupp at midseason before ultimately deciding to retain him at the time.

ESPN's Adam Schefter pointed out that unless his contract is renegotiated, any team that trades for Kupp will inherit his $20 million salary for the 2025 season and his $19.85 million salary for 2026.

Kupp recently admitted that he was unsure of his future with the Rams, but he made it clear that he had no intentions of retiring.

"Do I want to play next year? Oh yeah," Kupp told The Athletic's Jordan Rodrigue last month. "There's no doubt in my mind I want to play football. I feel like I've got a lot of good football left in me. I definitely will be playing — I will be playing football next year. That much I know."

Kupp's injury history likely factored into Los Angeles' decision to let him go. In 2024, he was limited to 12 games for the second season in a row and produced 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns. He finished with five catches for 61 yards in the Rams' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round.

Los Angeles selected Kupp with a third-round pick in the 2017 draft, and he blossomed into one of the best receivers in the league. He achieved the receiving triple crown in 2021 and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year that season. He helped lead the Rams to victory in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals, earning Super Bowl MVP honors.

If Kupp can stay healthy, he could be a difference-maker on a contending team in 2025.