Why the Bears should pursue a trade for Cooper Kupp

Joe Camporeale - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 8 hours ago

If Keenan Allen does not return next season, the Chicago Bears will need someone to fill the gap at wide receiver No. 2. While there are many less expensive options than current Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, sometimes you get what you pay for.

Chicago could go after some less expensive receiver in free agency, but they will most likely not be the caliber of Cooper Kupp. Kupp has been one of the best receivers in the NFL since he entered the league in 2017. He has consistently been a downfield threat and has recorded at least five touchdown receptions every season except 2020; he still had 974 receiving yards that year.

Kupp’s greatest problem throughout his career has been injuries. The last time he played a full season was in 2021. However, that year was the great season of his career as he had 16 receiving touchdowns, 114.5 receiving yards per game, and 1,947 receiving yards, which is the second-most in a single season in NFL history. Thus, Kupp can be one of the best receivers in league history if he can stay healthy.

For a 31-year-old receiver, his history of ankle injuries in the past few seasons is not incredibly surprising. That does make his age and reliability a concern for the Bears moving forward. However, he managed to play 12 games last season, during which time he recorded 710 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. His numbers were close to those of Keenan Allen, who played in 15 games last season.

Despite Kupp’s injury history, he would be an upgrade from Allen and has incredible upside, given his performance just a few years ago. The Bears traded for an elite wide receiver from Los Angeles last year and have the cap space to do it again.

The Los Angeles Rams are seeking to trade Kupp. This move is most likely a matter of making salary cap space as Kupp’s contract has a $29.7 million cap hit. That hit is too much for many teams in the NFL, but not the Chicago Bears. Chicago has nearly $65 million in cap space to work with. While trading Kupp would take a large portion of the Bears’ salary cap, he would be worth the financial price.

But is he worth the draft capital Los Angeles would demand?

Despite Kupp recording one of the best receiving seasons in NFL history in 2021, being a Pro Bowl and All-Pro wide receiver, and finishing third in MVP voting during his historic 2021 season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes Kupp is worth about the same value as Allen was in his trade. Therefore, it would take approximately a fourth-round pick to acquire Cooper Kupp.

As of right now, Chicago does not have any fourth-round selections.

However, the Bears do have one first-round pick at No. 10 overall, two second-round picks at No. 39 and No. 41 overall, a third-round selection, a fifth-round pick, a sixth-round pick, and two seventh-round picks. If Chicago wanted to be aggressive, they could use their third-round pick (No. 72 overall) to acquire Kupp. If not, perhaps a fifth-round pick paired with one of Chicago’s seventh-round selections would be adequate compensation for the Rams in exchange for Kupp.

Overall, the draft price is too low for Chicago not to pursue this trade. While the financial hit against the cap will be significant, there will be enough cap hit for the Bears to acquire other players they need through free agency and the draft, such as offensive and defensive linemen.