The NFL trade deadline is less than two weeks away and phone lines are lighting up in front offices all over the NFL. Well, most are actually taking calls on a cell phone during a drive to work or while stepping in and out of meetings, though I do know a few decision-makers who still love an old-fashioned landline. (Who doesn’t?)
The reality is the sizzle is much better than the steak as we inch closer to deadline day, though there has been an uptick in trades in recent years. It hasn’t been an earth-shattering increase, but there are more deals now than there used to be. Last year, 15 trades went down by the deadline, five more than the season prior. Most teams are looking at their roster, identifying the expiring contracts or figuring out whose production and salary are mismatched. This is “collection of information” time when GMs are also trying to determine players’ value.
One NFL general manager shared his philosophy about the trade deadline: “You can’t get caught in the emotion and drama of it. There’s a reason these moves are being made. The core of your team is the core of your team, and very rarely (does) one extra piece change your season.”
Most contending teams are on a mission to upgrade their depth, and in years past some big names have done just that: the Vikings acquiring tight end T.J. Hockenson, the Dolphins adding edge Bradley Chubb, the 49ers trading for running back Christian McCaffrey, the Bears getting edge Montez Sweat and the Ravens picking up linebacker Roquan Smith.
As for the biggest name on the trade block this year …
Kupp was shopped — did Thursday change things?
After Thursday night’s win over the Minnesota Vikings got them to 3-4, Rams head coach Sean McVay sounded like a man who was going to toss GM Les Snead’s phone in the Pacific Ocean. That’s after L.A. had multiple conversations with other teams regarding star wideout Cooper Kupp. While McVay said he was thrilled to have Kupp back on the field and he “expects it to stay that way,” would the Rams still consider a deal?
Before the Rams’ recent win, my colleague Michael Silver (who just joined The Athletic last week — I recommend his columns if you love premiere storytelling and access) and I spoke to multiple league sources who have had discussions with the Rams about trading for the 31-year-old receiver. The Chiefs (before the Hopkins trade), Bills and Steelers are among the teams that have either called L.A. or that L.A. reached out to to discuss a trade scenario.
The Rams toyed with paying a small chunk of Kupp’s salary to make a trade more palatable, but have informed most suitors that this is not an option. Just a reminder: Kupp is making $15 million this year, and he’s scheduled to make $20 million next year, of which $5 million is already guaranteed. So if a team wants him, it would need at least $9 million in cap room to absorb the contract (unless the Rams help). After a healthy Kupp looked like a reasonable version of himself Thursday night, count on this: If a team does talk to the Rams about trading for him, the price just went way up.
Read more here.
GO FURTHER
Russini’s what I’m hearing: Trade deadline chatter on Kupp, 49ers and big-name defensive players
