Steelers Likely No Longer Have Opportunity To Land Rams’ Cooper Kupp

The Pittsburgh Steelers need help in the wide receivers' room. That is a statement that nearly every fan and and pundit alike has been shouting to the rooftops for nearly the entire 2024 calendar year. General Manager Omar Khan has not been able to pull off any kind trade, despite some big names being involved in rumors, such as Brandon Aiyuk and Davante Adams. As the trade deadline inches closer and the team sits comfortably with a 5-2 record entering Week 8, a true number two pass-catcher alongside George Pickens may be the final piece to the puzzle that gets the organization over the playoff-win drought.

The rumors have not stopped regarding Khan and the Steelers. Once one wideout ends up settling in at a different destination, another receiver ends up being linked to Pittsburgh. The most recent example of this is Adams getting traded to the New York Jets. In what seemed just like days after, the Steelers had a new trade candidate emerge: Los Angeles Rams pass-catcher Cooper Kupp.

Many wondered why Kupp was suiting up for a Thursday Night Football game for the Rams if the intent was to trade him. He is 31 years old and a bit injury-prone, and it was looked as a risk to let him play. With that said, he hauled in five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. His stat line was respectable, but the most important piece for Los Angeles was a 30-20 win. That may completely end any and all rumors of Kupp's potential departure.

Head Coach Sean McVay stated after the game that the rumors aren't true, but that could just be a coach speaking in front of the media not wanting to give out too much information. What's more likely is that the Rams were shopping Kupp, but now sit at 3-4 and a win in Week 9 gets that back to an even .500 and in the thick of the NFC Wild Card conversation. Khan may be onto plan number four in terms of trade targets.

Before the November 5th trade deadline, the Rams will take on the Seattle Seahawks on the road. It's possible that a loss and record of 3-5 could change McVay's mind, but for now, it seems as if a big conference win on Thursday night has the head coach and team planning to have Kupp around for the foreseeable future. This is unfortunate for the Steelers, a team that is desperate to get help in the wide receiver area.

Granted, no coach is going to get up in front of the media and specifically state that he expects one of his best players to be traded, but McVay's stern belief that Kupp isn't going anywhere should tell Steelers fans that he will likely be a Ram through at least the 2024 campaign. Pittsburgh is still expected to be active in the market, but landing a superstar like Kupp is becoming increasingly more unlikely.

Steelers Probably Don't Have Any Big-Named Wide Receivers Left To Target

After Aiyuk, Adams, and Kupp all slipped out of Khan's hands, the trade market is expected to be plentiful, but not dominant. The biggest names as of now are most likely guys like Mike Williams and Darius Slayton. Of course, things can change after games in Weeks 8 and 9, but worry should officially be setting in for fans in the Steel City. Pittsburgh needs help in the area, but currently, won't get a stud difference-maker that makes the team a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Did you want to see the Steelers trade with the Rams for Kupp? Let us know in the comments below!

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