Early into the offseason ominous winds kept on blowing on Matthew Stafford’s future as a Ram. Giants, Steelers, Raiders, and Jets were all touted as his next landing spot as soon as the Rams granted his request for a trade. Hell, they even set his asking price. Throw in a first-round pick and take our Super Bowl champion QB away. But then out of nowhere—Boom, the Rams managed to strike a deal with their veteran QB. He agreed to sign a restructured contract, keeping him for at least another season in LA. Well, this move might have sent the Rams Nation into jubilation. However, it’s his No.1 target Puka Nacua who is not just happy—he is dreaming of something shiny.
Hopping on the St.Brown Podcast, Nacua couldn’t control his excitement just thinking about playing with Stafford again. Like I said, not just excited, Nacua with a cautious approach said, “We gotta go crazy this year. We got only a couple of years left with Matthew.” Super Bowl? Is Nacua trying to reach a Super Bowl, no matter what it takes, in probably the last season of Stafford in a Rams jersey. I mean it could be possible considering Stafford against all odds pushed the Rams to a divisional round game against the eventual champions—the Eagles. Maybe in his final year with the Rams, he could take them to another Super Bowl like he did in his first year in 2021.
But there’s also a hurdle to this dream as Nacua pointed out, “Who knows, I mean he’s.. as long as we can keep him healthy, bro but he cannot play till he’s 50, that’s for sure.” See, at 37 of course people are gonna raise questions on Stafford’s ability to remain injury free. However, the 37-year-old surprised a lot of people out there last season by pulling off an injury-free campaign. Playing 16 games, Stafford passed over 3,700 yards and threw 20 TDs. His numbers were pretty incredible, you know, considering both Nacua and Cooper Kupp missed significant time last season.
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Nacua only played 11 while Kupp appeared in 12 games. Still, Nacua was Stafford’s favorite target, throwing him 106 passes out of which he caught only 79. But somehow managed to be the team leader in receiving yards with 990.
So, of course, Nacua would be excited to link up again with Stafford. I mean he was pretty hyped up a few days ago, also when that news of Stafford staying popped up on his phone. Posting on his X, Nacua said with a huge grin on his face, “I just barely missed my flight to Salt Lake City but we just signed Matthew Stafford. Number 9 is back.” Yep No.9 is surely back. But what about No.10? Is there any chance that former Super Bowl MVP can still remain as a Ram?
Puka Nacua gives his 2-cents on the chances of Cooper Kupp staying
It’s been almost a month since Kupp announced the Rams are seeking an immediate trade for him. And from that day till today, there’s still not an agreement with another franchise. So, with Kupp’s future in LA still up in the air. Nacua was asked on the St.Brown podcast if there is any chance that Kupp will be back. Let’s just say his answer also doesn’t paint a bright picture on Kupp coming back next season. “I’m not sure I have. I mean, I hope if there’s a way, I mean, I think if he could restructure and refigure out a way, or if there’s still like a relationship to be able to mend.” Well, to be honest, it’s all doom and gloom on Kupp’s camp.
There’s almost no conversation of a possible u-turn that Nacua is hoping for. Like Rams GM Les Sneak also painted a bleak picture on Kupp’s return next season. “There’s a scenario, but when you get into probabilities, that would be the least likely.” If this is really the end of Kupp’s tenure as a Ram, then he will surely go down as a future Hall of Famer for them, at least.
His finest chapter came in 2021 when Kupp was a triple crown winner catching 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 TDs. Capping off his monstrous campaign with Offensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl LVI MVP. After reaching his peak in 2021, it’s been mostly downhill for Kupp. In the last 3 seasons, he has missed 17 games for numerous injuries. So, it’s only fitting that the Rams move on from him before March 17th. You might be wondering why March 17th? Well, on the fifth day of the new league year, Kupp is due $7.5M in roster bonus.
Surely, the Rams wouldn’t be interested in paying that money to someone who is clearly not on their plans. And the hope is that they can strike a trade with a franchise before that deadline.
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