Hey, let’s talk about the most significant trade of the 2025 NFL offseason so far! Without a doubt, it’s the blockbuster move that sent Cooper Kupp to the Seattle Seahawks. The veteran wide receiver found himself in the middle of a whirlwind free agency after Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams decided to move on from him. And guess what? The deal ended with Kupp signing a three-year, $45 million contract with Seattle!

When asked about joining another team in the NFC West, Kupp made it clear that playing against his former squad wasn’t his main objective. “That wasn’t the goal, to be like, ‘I want to make sure I play the #Rams.’ But it’s a nice little side gift, I guess.” He also expressed his excitement about joining the Seahawks, saying he’s thrilled to be part of the team.

To elaborate a little, Kupp said, “Didn’t play into the decision to come here, but it’s a nice little thing on the side to be able to go against those guys.” So, what were the intentions behind that? The Seahawks WR added, “It’s not about proving anyone else wrong, trying to make anyone else feel bad about anything. It’s just about being myself and being who I believe I can be and going out there and playing the game I love,’’ during the latest interview with the NFL Network. 

The Los Angeles Rams didn’t give an extension to Cooper after his three-year contract with the franchise ended. Per Over the Cap, the deal was $80,100,000. As for how much the Seahawks are spending on Kupp, they have agreed to a three-year, $45,000,000 contract.

There are many opinions on the purpose of the trade—some say it’s about the money, others believe it’s about ending his career in his home state. More than that, some predict the trade could hurt the Seahawks due to Kupp’s history of injuries.

And you know what? Cooper Kupp responded to all the criticism with just one answer.

Cooper Kupp took a jab at critics

Since the Cooper Kupp trade, opinions have been pouring in from football fans, analysts, and experts. Critics have mainly focused on Kupp’s statement about his motivation. He admitted that he lacked the drive to remain in the NFC West. Addressing the criticism he received after the trade, he responded: “I still see myself playing this game at a very high level. I see myself as an ascending player. Any narrative that is any different is just someone that hasn’t watched a whole lot of film.” No doubt—Kupp is more than ready to get the job done.

The main question critics always ask is, ‘Is there football left in Cooper Kupp?’ But if we look at the stats of the 2024 season, he is not far away from grabbing the top 20 spot. In receptions, Kupp was 37th with 67 receptions, and in receiving yards he was 49th. In terms of scoring touchdowns, Kupp had six tied for 35th position.

Though it’s clear that fans haven’t seen the best receptions-to-yards average from Kupp he showed a few years ago. Maybe that happened because of injuries. His injury-laden past gives a different angle for critics to label him as ‘washed’.

But going into the fresh season, Kupp is not thinking about the injuries that happened in 2024 and before it. Kupp was out five times in the 2024 season because of an ankle injury. But it’s part of the game. With a new team, Cooper Kupp’s focus is: Shut the mouths of critics.