The Seahawks have signed Cooper Kupp, and that’s a headscratcher. This is the same team that just a week ago released another 32-year-old wide receiver.
How much better Kupp is right now than Tyler Lockett can be debated. Lockett has been healthier. Since catching 145 passes in 2021, Kupp has missed 8, 5 and 5 games the last three seasons. While he’s a crafty, knowledgeable route runner, he’s lost some burst and quickness. The Rams, after all, released him.
Los Angeles wasn’t using Kupp much at the end of last year. He finished with fewer than 30 receiving yards in five of his final seven games, with everything tending to run through Puka Nacua.
Lockett (who wants to keep playing) is almost a year older. He’s 32 now, while Kupp turns 32 in the middle of June. Lockett was similarly phased out of his team’s offense last year, finishing with fewer than 30 yards in each of his last eight games, with no touchdowns.
Reports suggest the Seahawks will pay Kupp real money, and that other teams were interested. The NFL insiders say he’s getting $45 million for three years. Probably a lot of funny money in there; I don’t expect he’ll be around for three years or average $15 million, but we’ll see. It’s a cool signing in that Kupp played his high school ball in the state (neither of the major schools in the state offered him a contract despite him catching 22 TDs in his final high school season).
I am not a fan of 32-year-old Kupp. I think the Seahawks probably will get better value out of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who could be their best receiver at getting deep for some chunk catches. With the kind of offense Seattle is installing (with more running), I’m not sure Kupp should be drafted at all in a lot of fantasy leagues.
At the same time, I’ll concede there were a few games last year where Kupp looked decent. When Nacua got hurt in Week 1, Kupp (on 21 targets) caught 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown at Detroit. He caught 11 passes for 104 yards in an overtime win at Seattle (another game Nacua left early). Kupp also caught 6 passes for 106 yards and 2 TDs in a win at New England.
Only 14 players last year caught 10-plus passes in more than one game. Kupp was one of those guys. But not a player I’ll be picking on any of my teams.
| PLAYERS WITH 10 CATCHES IN A GAME | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | No |
| WR | Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 4 |
| TE | Brock Bowers, L.V. | 4 |
| WR | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 3 |
| WR | Malik Nabers, NYG | 3 |
| WR | Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. | 3 |
| TE | Trey McBride, Ari. | 3 |
| WR | Drake London, Atl. | 2 |
| WR | Jerry Jeudy, Cle. | 2 |
| WR | CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 2 |
| WR | Cooper Kupp, LAR | 2 |
| WR | Puka Nacua, LAR | 2 |
| WR | Wan'Dale Robinson, NYG | 2 |
| WR | Jauan Jennings, S.F. | 2 |
| TE | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 2 |
| WR | Tee Higgins, Cin. | 1 |
| WR | Nico Collins, Hou. | 1 |
| WR | Stefon Diggs, Hou. | 1 |
| WR | Josh Downs, Ind. | 1 |
| WR | Brian Thomas, Jac. | 1 |
| WR | Rashee Rice, K.C. | 1 |
| WR | Quentin Johnston, LAC | 1 |
| WR | Jakobi Meyers, L.V. | 1 |
| WR | Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 1 |
| WR | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 1 |
| WR | Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 1 |
| WR | DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 1 |
| WR | DK Metcalf, Sea. | 1 |
| WR | Chris Godwin, T.B. | 1 |
| WR | Calvin Ridley, Ten. | 1 |
| TE | Cole Kmet, Chi. | 1 |
| TE | Mike Gesicki, Cin. | 1 |
| TE | David Njoku, Cle. | 1 |
| TE | Brenton Strange, Jac. | 1 |
| TE | Evan Engram, Jac. | 1 |
| TE | Jonnu Smith, Mia. | 1 |
| TE | Dallas Goedert, Phil. | 1 |
—Ian Allan