Cooper Kupp: The Seahawk
Do not panic, Cooper Kupp will still be a good fantasy asset in Seattle. In a Friday night news dump, Cooper Kupp was reported to have signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks This brings him back to the state where he was born and raised: Washington State. Kupp attended college at Eastern Washington University. This reunion makes sense as the former Ram was forced out of Los Angeles. Unfortunately for the Rams, he ended up within the division. Kupp still has tread on the tires, so don’t panic—Cooper Kupp will still be a valuable fantasy asset in 2025.
The End in LA
Cooper Kupp has spent the last eight years in Los Angeles. The eight years had many highs and lows. The highest of those highs was defined by a Super Bowl-winning performance over the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021, in which he won the Super Bowl MVP. He also won the Wide Receiver Triple Crown that season with 145 receptions, 1,947 receiving yards, and 16 receptions. He was incredible. He was incredible. Trust me, I know—he was on my most important fantasy team that year.
The last three seasons (2022-2024) have been frustrating for the aging star, who missed 35% of the available games. However, he has still been productive when healthy, averaging 6 receptions, 69 Yards, and about 9 targets per game. That’s still impressive for Kupp as he moves into his age-32 season.
Kupp was designated as a post-June cut, which set Kupp on a path to be released at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, March 12, at 4 P.M. ET. The Rams saved some money, and Kupp began searching for the next chapter in his career. The Rams simply could not pay him over $20 million a year. They brought in Pro-Bowler Davante Adams on a 2-year, $25 million guaranteed deal to be his replacement. Not to mention, the emerging superstar and latest late-round steal for Sean McVay, Puka Nacua.
Transition in Seattle
The Seahawks have made several changes throughout the offseason. Most notably, they parted ways with two long-time mainstays in the wide receiver room and their starting quarterback. They did this in favor of their first-round pick in 2023, Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN).
DK Metcalf was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers mainly for a second-rounder. The Ole’ Miss alum had asked for a more stable situation and an extension and the Seattle regime was not willing to compensate for a five-year, $150-million contract.
Seattle also parted ways with Seahawk Great Tyler Lockett. Lockett had nearly 9,000 receiving yards and over 60 touchdowns in his durable 10-year career with the team. It is unclear what the next steps for Lockett will be, 32, but if this is it. A wonderful career for the receiver out of Kansas St.
Geno Smith was traded to the desperate Las Vegas Raiders just before NFL Free agency kicked off after three years of starting in Seattle. Smith found a new life in his otherwise stagnant career during his time in Seattle. The trade came as a shock to the NFL world. Seattle looked comfortable with Smith driving the boat, but dealt him after extension talks fell through.
The Beginning in Seattle
Kupp, The central Washington native, has spent some time in Eastern Washington for college ball with the Eagles but for the first time don the green and blue in the northwestern part of the state.
After parting ways with three key cogs in last year’s offense they made a flurry of moves that brought in some new veterans like Kupp, along with draft picks to build a more complete team heading into the 2025 season. Sam Darnold signed a three-year, $100 million contract with $55 million guaranteed. However, Seattle has an out after one year if Darnold Struggles, they could be making a pact with the former Jets’ quarterback for three full seasons.
Three years seems to be the window for the Seahawks’ new offense core of Kupp and Darnold. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has two years left with a fifth-year option, which could total three years. So what does this mean for Kupp and the new-look Seahawks and their fantasy football outlook for 2025?
Kupp’s Outlook
Cooper Kupp’s peripherals have fallen as he has gotten older for the last few years. Part of the reason for that, yes, is age, but he also has been hurt in the middle of the season and it has taken him time to get acclimated back into game speed. Kupp is not the same receiver that he once was, but he can earn 6-7 targets a game for the Seahawks. Kupp is one of the smartest receivers in the NFL, he can dissect a defense behind the line of scrimmage similar to a quarterback.
JSN has become elite as well, catching 100 balls for 1,130 receiving yards a year ago. The two will make for an excellent combo and serve as an improvement over what they had a year ago. I believe that JSN’s ascension in 2024 makes him a better fantasy wide receiver week-to-week than DK Metcalf. Having Metcalf on your fantasy roster is a chase more than a steady hand. Kupp will be infinitely more impactful than Lockett who has seen steady declines over the last two years while playing full seasons.
The only thing that stands in the way of Seattle’s offense improving in 2024 is the former No.3 overall pick of the New York Jets, Sam Darnold. If he does not regress to what he was before his time with Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell, Kupp should be a high-end WR3/Low-end WR2 in 2025. If Darnold continues the success that he found this past season. If Darnold continues the success he found this past season, I could see Kupp’s ceiling being a high-end WR2 in 2025—under the right circumstances and, of course, in good health.