There are two concerns people are discussing in reaction to the Seahawks signing Cooper Kupp. One is warranted, the other not so much.
He hasn’t played a full 17-game season since his record-breaking year in 2021. Kupp turns 32 in June. The Seahawks will probably have to manage his workload to keep him available. This isn’t unusual for players of his age.
That’s the legit concern. The money side of it, though, is far less problematic.
Firstly, the Seahawks have a lot of money to spend. It’s not just the millions they still have to play with this year. It’s the massive amount of cap available to them in 2026 and 2027. This signing isn’t going to stop them doing anything they want to do this year or in the future.
Furthermore, the final details on the reported three-year $45m contract will likely show some flexibility for the team. The first reported numbers you see are from the agents. I’d be surprised if the Seahawks are on the hook for a hard $15m-a-year without any outs. This is hardly committing tens of millions to Will Fries without a progress report on his recovery from a broken leg first.
Even if it was $15m, the rest of the NFL provides context. Tutu Atwell just signed a one-year deal worth $10m. Allen Lazard and Jakobi Meyers earn $11m a year. Gabe Davis, Darnell Mooney and Khalil Shakir are on $13m.
The Rams gave Davante Adams $22m-a-year and he turns 33 in December.
As you can see, the contract the Seahawks gave Kupp is hardly out of the ordinary or some kind of massive overpay. This is about what he should get for a player of his reputation, if you believe he still has something to offer. The Seahawks clearly believe he has.
It’s also worth noting that DK Metcalf just got $33m to go to Pittsburgh. He only had 992 yards himself in 2024, although I’m sure he’d argue there are reasons for that. If Kupp can get to that level of yardage for half the cost, it’ll be a net-win.
I see the signing as low-risk and very much in the ‘why not?’ category. If it doesn’t work out, there aren’t going to be any serious ramifications. You spent a bit of money on an ageing legendary receiver. It’s hardly a fireable offence.
If it does work out — you’re getting a player with natural skill, veteran savvy, he’s a good blocker and he adds to a receiver room that was suddenly quite thin. He’ll be suitably motivated after being cut by the Rams and clearly has the kind of ‘want to be there’ feeling John Schneider talked about yesterday that was lacking with Metcalf.
He might not be quite the athlete he was five years ago but can he still run the routes this system needs, particularly on the short-to-intermediate range, to move the chains and convert critical downs? I suspect he can. I also think he and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be able to play off each other and Marquez Valdez-Scantling will be able to provide the deep threat.
The Seahawks will draft a receiver. I doubt it’ll be at #18 but it could be in rounds two or three. Earlier today I published a mock with Colorado State’s Tory Horton being selected in round three.
This has been a productive free agency so far. It hasn’t been a game-changer but in reality that was never likely with the players available.
I won’t repeat all of the arguments about the offensive line, I’ll just say again that I don’t think it’s any crushing blow to miss out on the player they wanted and I think the draft will provide solutions. People pining for Teven Jenkins and Garrett Bradbury should at least acknowledge why they were replaced by their previous teams. They will likely not help form a great O-line in Seattle but they might be able to act as cheap draft hedges on one-year deals.
The Ernest Jones Jr and Jarran Reed contracts are excellent value. The pivot from Geno Smith to the younger and cheaper Sam Darnold, with a third rounder thrown in too, is a good move. As with Kupp, I think there’s absolutely no reason to quibble about the addition of DeMarcus Lawrence.
With five picks to spend in a good draft — this is turning into the disruptive, potentially transformational off-season this franchise needed. John Schneider and co. deserve credit for being willing to take risks to improve, rather than settle in the middle ground of the NFL.
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