Report: The Rams' asking price for Cooper Kupp is higher than the Jets' trade for Davante Adams

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't land WR Davante Adams and watched him fly to New York before striking him as the Jets arrived at Acrisure Stadium. Their goal could turn into a trade for WR Cooper Kupp, the last big-name receiver on the market. The problem is that it may not be cheaper.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Rams' price for Kupp is high.

“The Rams have received calls to Kupp and told other teams that the price would be higher than what the Las Vegas Raiders got for Davante Adams,” Breer wrote in a column for SI on Thursday.

The Raiders sent Adams to the Jets last Tuesday for a conditional 2025 third-round pick. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, this third-rounder can be upgraded to a second-round pick if Adams is named to an All-Pro team this season or if New York advances to the AFC Championship Game or Super Bowl.

Conditions have become an issue in the wide receiver trade market. In the deal for WR DeAndre Hopkins, the Kansas City Chiefs gave the Tennessee Titans a conditional fifth-round pick that can become a fourth if the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl And Hopkins played 60 percent of his snaps after the trade.

One difference between the Adams deal and the potential Kupp deal is financial. The Raiders did not retain any of Adams' salary, nor did the Jets reach a revised deal with Adams as part of the deal, although they are confident in keeping him beyond this year because of his friendship with QB Aaron Rodgers. The Rams are reportedly willing to take on a portion of Kupp's salary to make it easier for any team to trade for him in the middle of the season. That's the compromise. The more money they eat, the higher their choice.

Still, giving up more draft capital on Kupp than Adams is a tall order. This would essentially mean giving up a second-round pick with no strings attached, which is reportedly Los Angeles' price. Even if both were in perfect health, most would rate Adams as a better receiver than Kupp. Add to that Kupp's repeated leg injuries, which have seen him play in 24 games over the last three seasons, and it's hard to give up more than what Adams got.

This leads Breer to believe that the Rams could simply keep Kupp.

“For this reason, the Rams’ evaluation of Kupp may not be consistent with what other teams are offering,” he said.

Los Angeles was open to dealing him, but only for what they considered fair value. And with Kupp still under contract beyond 2024, they can hold their ground and bring him back for next season. There is no urgency to give it away. Steelers GM Omar Khan is known for setting a price and not raising it, potentially leading to an impasse between the two teams. And with the Rams pulling off an upset on Thursday night, the chances of him being dealt seem even slimmer.

As the November 5 trade deadline approaches, answers will soon come.