The Denver Broncos don’t have a largely pressing need for a wide receiver, but adding one could help Bo Nix and the offense take another step forward in 2025 without compromising the foundation that Sean Payton has built. Could the Broncos look at Los Angeles Rams veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp?
Denver Broncos should trade for Cooper Kupp
The Denver Broncos have higher needs than wide receivers, like running back and tight end, but adding a veteran receiver who can immediately elevate the offense is something the Broncos should consider.
Yesterday, Los Angeles Rams veteran WR Cooper Kupp announced that the team informed him they would be immediately looking at trading him away and that he’s played his final down as a Ram. This is where the Broncos should enter the chat.
Cupp is a veteran option who is an extremely quarterback friendly target. With Courtland Sutton entering the final year of his deal in 2025, Kupp would be a great addition opposite of him.
Kupp, who will be 32 in 2025, still has a lot to offer, and his strengths and traits as a player are things that head coach Sean Payton values. He’s a great teammate, captain, perimeter blocker in the run game, a very good route runner, and a sure-handed receiving option — all of which would immediately elevate a young receiver room.
Trading for Cupp doesn’t handcuff the Broncos because they could negotiate with the Rams to take on a portion of his guaranteed money in 2025. Denver could also restructure his deal.
In 2024, Cupp suffered a high ankle sprain early on in the year and missed five games. He played in 12 total games this past season and hauled in 67 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns, which would have easily placed him as the Broncos’ second-leading receiver if he were in Denver.
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Adding a player like Cupp elevates a receiver room and doesn’t impact nor impede the development of players like Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, or Devaughn Vele. Instead, it elevates their opportunities even more by placing them in a position to make more plays if defenses try and take away Sutton and Kupp as their primary options in the passing game — it only helps their development and makes Denver’s receiving room instantly better as a deep five.
When teams began to focus on taking away Sutton as the primary option for Nix down the stretch, players like Mims stepped up, but Denver needed more contribution from their other young guys and didn’t get enough except Franklin.
Cupp puts more pressure on opposing defenses because of his ability to run routes effectively to beat both man and zone coverages, and he could be that chain-moving option that could serve as a security blanket for Nix, who will be entering his second season in the league.
The Broncos have the flexibility and relationship equity with the Rams to make this decision if they want to and if it were to happen, it would immediately make them and the offense better while trying to maximize the window the team has with Nix on a rookie deal and is a cheaper financial option than signing Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin.
