Since the Green Bay Packers’ lackluster playoff exit in the Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, fans have been calling for the team to add a new receiver. By the end of that game, the receiving corps was decimated, and with Christian Watson likely missing the start of the upcoming season, there has been a strong demand for an additional receiver to bolster the group.
Though the Packers missed out on trading for DK Metcalf or signing former Packer Davante Adams after his release from the New York Jets – both of whom they reportedly had no interest in – Green Bay may still have an opportunity to acquire an elite playmaker.
According to Ari Meirov, the Packers are among the teams actively considering signing former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp after his release on Wednesday.
Betting markets have reflected this interest, with Green Bay’s odds of landing Kupp moving from around 25/1 (+2500) to just under 7/1 (+650), making them the fourth favorite to sign the former Super Bowl MVP.
Packers Need a WR1 This Season
Even without Watson’s injury, the Packers likely needed to address their wide receiver depth this offseason. Now, with one of their top three receivers – and arguably their most physically gifted pass-catcher – expected to miss the start of the 2025 season, reinforcements are essential.
While the passing offense has been efficient under Jordan Love over the past year and a half, fans and analysts have pointed out that the young quarterback lacks a true WR1. We’ve seen how quarterbacks like Josh Allen have progressed with the addition of Stefon Diggs or how Jayden Daniels relies on his top target, Terry McLaurin.
Jordan Love, however, has never had a singular, reliable, elite target – someone to turn to on critical third downs, much like how Aaron Rodgers relied on Davante Adams during his MVP seasons of 2020 and 2021.
Ironically, the Packers once had the opposite problem with Rodgers – they had few playmakers beyond Adams and, to a lesser extent, Allen Lazard. Now, with Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay has several players who excel in different areas, but no one who has fully put it all together – at least not yet.
What Would Kupp Bring to the Packers’ Offense?
For those who prioritize draft-and-develop strategies, signing Kupp may seem unnecessary. However, for most Packers fans, the acquisition of Kupp would be a highly celebrated move.
Kupp brings championship experience, having been the leading receiver on the Super Bowl-winning Rams team. Despite his injury history, there are signs that the former Rams receiver still has plenty to offer any NFL team. Had the Rams not found All-Pro sensation Puka Nacua in the 2023 draft, Kupp might not have been available.
While injuries have caused Kupp to miss at least five games each of the past three seasons since his Super Bowl win, in all those seasons, he was on track for 1,000 yards if he had stayed healthy.
Kupp’s health is undoubtedly a concern, given his struggles with injuries in recent years. However, if the Packers can get him for three-quarters of a season – and, if they make it, into the playoffs – it would be well worth the investment.
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