Seahawks signing Cooper Kupp is more than a homecoming

Kupp also attended Eastern Washington University, where he set records for the Eastern Washington Eagles football team and helped lead them to three Big Sky Conference titles as part of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The Rams then drafted Kupp in the third round of the 2017 draft, and he spent eight seasons with the team before being released on Wednesday after they failed to trade him. 

For the Seahawks, this is about more than bringing back a hometown hero; it's still about being competitive. Seattle has undergone a complete makeover, with the team trading ex-quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and agreeing to a three-year, $100.5 million deal with quarterback Sam Darnold. The team also released WR Tyler Lockett and traded franchise star DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before Kupp's signing, the Seahawks did not have a receiver on their roster who recorded over 200 yards last season, aside from No. 1 WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Kupp is a significant step up from their current WR No. 2 options. Still, the Seahawks are betting on Kupp regaining some of his former glory. In 2021, Kupp became the fourth triple crown winner since 1970 by making 145 receptions for 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. However, injuries derailed him enough that in 2024, he had an unimpressive 67 receptions for 710 yards and six touchdowns.

After giving Kupp a three-year, $80.1 million extension, the Rams looked to get out of the contract by trading him, but no one wanted to pay the $20 million he was owed. The Seahawks deal is worth $15 million per year, according to The Athletic, which is substantial money for a receiver perceived to be on the decline. However, Kupp is a former Super Bowl MVP who caught the game-winning touchdown in the Rams' 23-20 Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at the Rams' very own SoFi Stadium.

With Smith-Njigba and Kupp, Darnold will still have a competitive wide receiver duo in the NFC West. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford — and one of Kupp's best friends — is 37 years old. The San Francisco 49ers appear to be retooling after a disappointing 2024, and the Arizona Cardinals have yet to reach their potential behind quarterback Kyler Murray. 

The NFC West looks to be anyone's division for the taking. With a healthy Kupp looking to play for his home state and get revenge on the team he thought he'd retire with, the star receiver could give the Seahawks the competitive edge they need in 2025.