Who Should I Start? Cooper Kupp or Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Tuesday, March 10, 12:38 PM

The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar writes that Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed's new deal "suggests a demotion" for Cooper Kupp, who turns 33 years old in June. Last year, Kupp was second on the team in targets (70) and receiving yards (593), and third in catches (47). His 2026 salary cap hit sits at $17.4 million, fourth-highest on the team behind Sam Darnold, Leonard Williams, and Uchenna Nwosu. One of either Shaheed or Kupp will end up being a pricey WR3, and the team still has second-year wideout Tory Horton. If the Seahawks were to trade Kupp, they'd save around $9.4 million in 2026. Kupp led the NFL in catches (145), targets (191), receiving yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16) in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams, but he's steadily declined since then. He caught only two touchdown passes in 16 regular-season games in 2025 and might have an even smaller role in his 10th year in the NFL if he stays in Seattle.