Did the Seahawks Seriously Overpay for Cooper Kupp?

Cooper Kupp’s Signing Sparks Debate Over Value and Vision

The Seattle Seahawks swooped in to sign veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp to a three-year, $45 million deal shortly after his release from the Los Angeles Rams this offseason. The acquisition, finalized on March 14, 2025, marked a homecoming for the Yakima, Washington native, who now returns to his roots to bolster a Seahawks offense undergoing a dramatic transformation. However, not everyone is convinced this was a savvy investment, with prominent voices like Colin Cowherd questioning the logic behind the contract for a player some see as past his prime.

A Divisional Twist of Fate

For eight seasons, Cooper Kupp was synonymous with the Rams, a franchise cornerstone who delivered unforgettable moments— his Super Bowl LVI MVP performance in 2021, where he hauled in eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns to secure the Lombardi Trophy. His departure from Los Angeles was as stunning as it was inevitable. The Rams, unable to find a trade partner willing to absorb Kupp’s hefty $29.78 million cap hit for 2025, released him on March 12, 2025, opting to pivot toward younger talent like Puka Nacua and a high-profile addition in Davante Adams.

Enter the Seahawks, the Rams’ longtime divisional foes, who saw an opportunity to not only bolster their roster but also stick it to their rivals twice a year. Kupp’s signing represents more than just a roster move—it’s a statement of intent from a team looking to redefine its identity after a tumultuous offseason. Seattle parted ways with quarterback Geno Smith (traded to the Las Vegas Raiders), released wide receiver Tyler Lockett, and shipped DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In their place, the Seahawks brought in quarterback Sam Darnold and now Kupp, betting on a blend of veteran savvy and untapped potential to reignite their offense.

The Case Against the Contract

Despite the emotional resonance of Kupp’s return to Washington, the signing has drawn sharp criticism, most notably from sports analyst Colin Cowherd. On his podcast, Cowherd labeled the deal “one of the strangest contracts” of the offseason, pointing to Kupp’s perceived decline as a separator on the field. “John Schneider, the general manager of Seattle, has almost never missed on receivers,” Cowherd acknowledged, citing Schneider’s track record with talents like Metcalf and Lockett. “But Cooper Kupp does not separate.”

Cowherd’s critique hinges on Kupp’s recent performance metrics. Since his transcendent 2021 season—where he led the NFL with 145 receptions, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns—Kupp has battled injuries, missing 18 games over the past three years. In 2024, he appeared in just 12 games, posting 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns. While respectable, these numbers pale in comparison to his peak, and Cowherd argues that the Rams’ decision to move on reflects a clear-eyed assessment of his current capabilities. “Sean McVay moves on from a receiver, they re-signed Tutu Atwell because he gets open. They went out and paid for older Davante Adams because… he gets open. Cooper Kupp does not get open at all,” Cowherd asserted.

The financial commitment adds fuel to the fire. At $15 million per year, Kupp’s contract isn’t astronomical by today’s wide receiver standards—top earners like Justin Jefferson and A.J. Brown command over $23 million annually—but it’s a significant bet on a 31-year-old with a recent injury history. Critics argue that the Seahawks could have allocated those resources elsewhere, perhaps on a younger, more dynamic playmaker to complement emerging star Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The Seahawks’ Perspective: A Calculated Risk

Yet, Seattle’s front office sees a different picture. Kupp’s signing isn’t just about raw athleticism; it’s about pedigree, football IQ, and the intangibles he brings to a retooled offense. While he may not blow past defenders like he once did, Kupp remains a technician—his route-running precision and ability to find soft spots in zone coverage are still elite. In 2024, four of his six touchdowns came in the red zone, an area where the Seahawks struggled last season, ranking 14th in efficiency. For a team pairing him with Darnold, a quarterback looking to prove himself after a Pro Bowl stint with the Vikings, Kupp’s reliability could be a game-changer.

The Seahawks also benefit from familiarity. Passing game coordinator Jake Peetz, who worked with Kupp in Los Angeles in 2022 and 2023, knows how to maximize his skill set. Expect Seattle to borrow from the Rams’ playbook—using motion and stacked formations to create space for Kupp on in-breaking routes, where he still excels. Alongside Smith-Njigba, who posted 1,130 yards in 2024, and speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kupp adds a veteran presence to a receiver room that lost over 1,500 yards of production with Metcalf and Lockett’s departures.

Moreover, the contract’s structure mitigates some risk. While the $45 million total sounds steep, the annual average ranks outside the top 20 among wide receivers, and the Year 1 cap hit is likely manageable. Compared to Metcalf and Lockett’s projected 2025 cap hits—both among the league’s highest—Seattle is recalibrating its spending without sacrificing too much production.

A Tale of Two Teams

For the Rams, letting Kupp walk was a cold but calculated business decision. With Nacua emerging as a star and Adams bringing All-Pro pedigree, Kupp’s $29.78 million cap hit was a luxury they couldn’t afford. Re-signing Tutu Atwell, a speedster who complements their new direction, and adding Adams signals a shift toward a more explosive, vertical attack under Sean McVay.

For the Seahawks, Kupp’s arrival is a roll of the dice—a chance to blend his experience with a hungry, revamped roster. If he stays healthy and Darnold finds his footing, Seattle could have a sneaky-good offense in 2025. If not, the critics will have plenty of ammunition to argue they overpaid for a fading star.

The Verdict: Potential Over Pessimism

Time will tell whether the Seahawks’ gamble pays off, but writing off Cooper Kupp feels premature. Yes, he’s not the triple-crown winner of 2021, but his 2024 stats—67 catches in 12 games—still project to 95 receptions over a full season, a mark that would’ve led Seattle last year. His injury history is a concern, but he’s also just one year removed from a 75-catch, 812-yard campaign in 2023. At 32 by next season, Kupp isn’t ancient—Adams, at 32, just signed a $46 million deal with the Rams and remains a top-tier threat.

The NFC West showdowns in 2025 will be must-watch theater, with Kupp facing his former team twice a year. For now, the Seahawks are banking on his brain, hands, and heart outweighing any decline in speed. Colin Cowherd may see a strange contract, but Seattle sees a spark—one that could ignite a new era at Lumen Field. Whether it’s a masterstroke or a misstep, Kupp’s journey back home is one of the offseason’s most compelling storylines.

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