The Los Angeles Rams made plenty of headlines this offseason with the release of Cooper Kupp, shopping Matthew Stafford and the signing of Davante Adams. While the Rams roster looks better on paper, some inside the NFL are uncertain if it will all work out how Sean McVay wants.
Los Angeles made its intentions with Kupp clear immediately this offseason, informing him that he would either be traded or released. A fan favorite among the fan base who had a strong relationship with Stafford, moving on from Kupp left a void in the Rams’ offense.
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- Davante Adams stats (2024): 85 receptions, 1,063 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns in 14 games
Before the All-Pro receiver was even released, the team brought in his replacement by signing Adams to a two-year deal. The move looked great on paper, with the six-time Pro Bowl selection offering a better pass-catching threat for Stafford. However, some around the league question the fit in McVay’s scheme.
Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke to NFL executives about the moves made by NFC teams in NFL free agency. Regarding the signing of Adams, some questioned how he would fit in the Rams’ offense.
“Davante is a little better separator (than Kupp), but there has been a dropoff in his ability to get consistently open.”
Anonymous NFL executive on the Los Angeles Rams replacing Cooper Kupp with Davante Adams
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- Davante Adams contract (Spotrac): $12 million cap hit in 2025, $28 million cap hit in 2026
Multiple executives expressed uncertainty about whether or not Adams, a traditional X receiver, would fit into the role that Kupp played. He’s an inferior blocker and executives also raised the point that Adams is used to being a true No. 1 receiver, a mindset that could be at odds with Puka Nacua’s role in the offense.
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Those same executives were skeptical of Adams’s ability to transform his career the way Larry Fitzgerald did, accepting the role of being a better and more willing blocker. However, what’s undeniable is that Los Angeles added a better receiving threat to its offense and Adams is likelier to play 15-plus games next season than Kupp.