A report indicating the Rams are calling teams Kuiper Kupp may have exaggerated how interested the NFC West franchise is in moving the best wide receiver of the Los Angeles 2.0 era. Kupp’s name remains in trade rumors, but the Rams may have a price floor.

Tuesday’s report indicated that the Rams are pursuing a second-round pick, so they would be willing to pay a portion of Kupp’s salary to secure such a return. On Thursday, SI.com’s Albert Breer said (during a… Rich Eisen show appearance) teams call the Rams on Kupp. To move the former All-Pro and Super Bowl MVP, Breer adds that the Rams want a return greater than what the Raiders received for it Davante Adams.

The teams still looking for WR help have no doubt noticed the Rams’ early-season struggles, which led to questions about Kupp. We heard before the Rams’ win over the Raiders that Kupp had attracted trade interest, but as the receiver prepares to return tonight along with Puka Nacuahis current team is probably not committed to selling yet. The Rams travel to Seattle after their Vikings game; their next two results could determine how willing they are to sell.

It took a conditional third-round pick for the Jets to acquire Adams from the Raiders. Las Vegas likely could have increased that had there not been a mandate for an acquisition team to prorate all of Adams’ 2024 base salary. The Jets did so, agreeing to terms that would send a second-rounder to the Raiders if certain conditions were met. Adams is unlikely to meet the terms, as he would have to earn first- or second-team All-Pro nod (in a season that has already included three missed games) or prepare for an AFC championship match.

If the Rams were to engage in serious Kupp trade talks, they would likely have to pay a significant portion of his base salary to land a second-round pick. That leaves just under $9 million of Kupp’s base salary for 2024. While he is due $5 million in guarantees in 2025, this poses another complication. The Rams signed Kupp through 2026 via the three-year, $80.1 million extension that was agreed to months after his Triple Crown season ended. Because they could regroup and hope the 31-year-old target can stay healthy. Now, if they want to move forward, Breer notes that teams have been told the price will have to be higher than Adams.

While Adams has never matched Kupp’s 2021 dominance, the former Packers and Raiders have been much more consistent. Kupp has had just two 1,000-yard seasons, with injuries consistently getting in the way. Kupp has an ACL tear (2018) on his medical record and he underwent cord surgery to repair an injured ankle in 2022. Kupp saw a hamstring specialist due to a nagging problem that delayed his 2023 debut and has only appeared in two games played due to an ankle illness this season. This health history, even with the Rams receiving an ample base salary, will prompt teams to consider Kupp as a hired gun.

Kupp was responsible for the second-best receiving yardage season in NFL history, adding 478 yards and six touchdowns in the 2021 playoffs. Only Larry Fitzgerald (2008) improved that yardage mark in one postseason, passing Kupp Hakeem Nicks‘ strong work from 2011. Kupp’s dominance that year has increased his standing in LA, with Breer stating that the option of giving up Kupp for a return in the third or fourth round could play a role in this Rams equation.

It will be interesting to see if the Rams lower their price or if this is truly a “take it or leave it” situation for a player who was part of Sean McVay‘s first draft class. The Chiefs discussed Kupp with the Rams before adding anything DeAndre Hopkins for a conditional fifth. The Rams have an extra week to determine their sales path, with this year’s deadline moving to November 5.