Since the Dallas Cowboys' front office is unlikely to be sellers before the trade deadline, they might as well go shopping in the name of improving their chances of making a deep playoff run, right?
While nobody views the Cowboys as a serious threat in a loaded NFC, a trade or two - coupled with getting key players back from injury - could be all it takes to awaken this sleeping giant. For everything that has gone wrong so far this season, Dallas is still 3-3.
Analysts and Cowboys fans have been on their soapbox begging the front office to trade for a running back. While a RB would be a nice addition, a new wide receiver would arguably make the bigger difference.
The WR market has been extremely active and it stands to reason that more players will get moved before the deadline. In a surprising development, the 2-4 Los Angeles Rams have been calling teams about trading former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp.
Kupp would be a great addition for Dallas, but his rumored cost all but confirms Jerry Jones won't even get the Rams on the phone.
Cowboys definitely won't trade for Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp
The Chiefs traded for Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was ironically linked to the Cowboys in 2023 free agency, in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick that can become a fourth-rounder based on conditions that were not disclosed at the time of this writing.
Before moving on Hopkins, the Chiefs discussed acquiring Kupp. However, talks didn't progress because Kansas City wanted the Rams to eat a large portion of Kupp's salary, per The Athletic's Dianna Russini. The Chiefs were also reluctant to give up a high draft pick.
The Rams and the the Chiefs discussed Cooper Kupp, but the Super Bowl champs needed to trade with a team that was willing to take on a large chunk of the salary and didn’t want to give up high picks. Tennessee is the team willing to play ball.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 23, 2024
While the Rams are willing to eat some of Kupp's salary, they are seeking a second-round pick in return for the former Triple Crown winner, per Russini. Los Angeles would be lucky to get a second-rounder for a 31-year-old receiver with a lengthy injury history.
Regardless, given Kupp's cost - both in terms of his contract and the Rams' asking price - you can guarantee the Cowboys won't be involved.
While Dallas would only have to pay Kupp $8.8 million for the rest of this season, he's guaranteed $20 million in 2025. That drops to $5 million in 2025, but he has cap hits of $29.78 million in 2025 and 2026, per Over the Cap. That is likely a non-starter for the Cowboys' stingy front office.
Kupp is a great separator who can play out wide and in the slot. He's exactly what Dallas needs opposite CeeDee Lamb, but this regime has little motivation to make win-now moves and make Dak Prescott's job easier.
Kupp's age, contract and injury history will make him a palatable "loss" for Cowboys fans when he is ultimately traded to a contender. However, it will also hammer home the notion that Jerry and Stephen Jones are not serious about winning in 2024.