Reigning Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp is staying with the Los Angeles Rams for a while, and he’ll be paid handsomely.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the terms of Kupp’s new deal with the defending champions.
Cooper Kupp’s three-year, $80 million extension includes $75 million guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2022
So in all: Rams’ WR Cooper Kupp’s three-year, $80 million extension includes $75 million guaranteed and is worth $110 million over the five years that tie him to Los Angeles through the 2026 season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2022
Schefter added that the $75 million guaranteed is a record for not only receivers, but — excluding quarterbacks — and offensive player.
The Rams confirmed the extension on Twitter.
THIS IS 𝙏𝙃𝙀 COOPER KUPP EXTENSION TWEET! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/x1nUpwJF3S
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 8, 2022
Others in the NFL world were quick to heap their praise onto Kupp and congratulate him for the new deal.
Cooper Kupp in the last year:
– Super Bowl MVP
– Unanimous All-Pro
– NFL Offensive Player of the Year
– Led NFL is catches, yards & TDs (triple crown)
– Totaled 178 catches, 2,425 yards & 22 TDs (regular + postseason)
– Signed new extension, locking him in for 5 years and $110M. pic.twitter.com/qvPAMxvNkq— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 8, 2022
Cooper Kupp had signed a 3-year extension in the past. It was worth $48M total.
This one is worth $110M over the next 5 years. The SBMVP is not only deserving of every dime, but may be the most humble SBMVP of all-time coming off the year he just had. Congratulations, COOOOOOP!
— Rams Brothers (@RamsBrothers) June 8, 2022
A reminder of what Cooper Kupp did in 21 games last season:
* 178 catches, 2,425 yards, 22 TD
* NFL regular season receiving triple crown (catches, yards, TD)
* Unanimous All-Pro
* Most catches in a single postseason (33)
* NFL Offensive Player of the Year
* Super Bowl MVP— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 8, 2022
Cooper Kupp appreciation post ♨️ pic.twitter.com/QS0cToLgyB
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) June 8, 2022
There was one other major narrative among NFL fans. The Rams have been notoriously aggressive over the last few seasons in free agency and trades, bringing in high-priced veterans. Recently, Los Angeles signed Aaron Donald to a huge extension. Now, the Rams have done the same with Kupp.
While both players are undeniably worthy of their high price tags, it does raise a question. How does a team in the NFL — a sport with a hard salary cap — make this work? That was a prevalent thought in the aftermath of Kupp’s big payday.
How Les Snead preps to crunch the numbers of the Rams' payroll years in advanced. https://t.co/zJ3hMn75mj pic.twitter.com/L6tfscgDl4
— Johnny Gomez (@Johnny5not6) June 9, 2022
#Rams don’t seem to be slowing down.
Aaron Donald ✅
Cooper Kupp ✅— Taylor Bisciotti (@TaylorBisciotti) June 8, 2022
Rams again showing the NFL that the cap isn’t real. https://t.co/oqIdbMPInD
— Corey Dalenberg (@CoreyDalenberg) June 9, 2022
The Rams explaining the salary cap pic.twitter.com/euZT9r4sxP
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) June 8, 2022
Somehow, Les Snead and company made the numbers fit. And while the Rams have lost some key pieces, they will have much of their Super Bowl-winning nucleus back as they try to become the first team since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004 to win consecutive Super Bowls.