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Rams’ Cooper Kupp not expect to be highest-paid wide receiver

Cooper Kupp put up the finest stats of his career with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. He was voted MVP of the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, with eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

Kupp is under contract until 2023, with a salary of $14.5 million in 2022 and $14.25 million the following season. The Rams have shown an interest in signing him to an extension.

The receiver contract market has skyrocketed this offseason, with Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders ($28.5 million per season) and Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins ($30 million per season) earning record-breaking agreements one week apart. Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills, Christian Kirk of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mike Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers, and Chris Godwin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all have also secured hefty agreements.

Kupp, 28, said he was looking forward to seeing the contracts made by other wide receivers this offseason since the receiver market has been “stale”. When asked if he wanted his value to exceed those deals, Kupp said it did not matter to him.

“I don’t think that’s really kind of the approach that I take,” said Kupp. “I definitely think there’s a place you want to be. There’s a place that you feel like is fair. A place for me and for this organization. I’m not trying to beat anybody. I’m not trying to compare myself to anyone else. It’s more about being in a place that’s just right for both sides.”

Rams coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that there had been an “excellent discussion” about new contracts with both Kupp and star defensive lineman Aaron Donald. He said that reaching agreements with both was “still at the forefront of their thoughts”.

Kupp’s goal

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday, Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers, A.J. Brown of the Tennessee Titans, and Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders were all looking for new contracts and not expected to participate in any on-field work throughout their respective teams’ voluntary offseason programs.

Kupp, on the other hand, was participating in the Rams’ program. He explained why it was vital for him.

“Well, I think it’s important to be here, be around the guys and be around this team,” said Kupp. “The goal at the end of the day is to win a world title. Whatever is going to get us in a place where we can compete for another world title, put us in a better position where we can be a better football team, that’s the goal. I think the best thing I can do is to be a part of that,”

He was on the edge of breaking the single-season record for catches and receiving yards. Kupp’s 145 catches and 1,947 receiving yards both ranked second in the single-season history. He is currently leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns with 16. Kupp became the first player since Steve Smith in 2005 to capture the receiving triple crown.

Cooper Kupp

Cooper Douglas Kupp is an American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League . He played college football at Eastern Washington, (wikipedia)

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. (wikipedia)