Cooper Kupp not focused on being highest-paid WR: ‘I’m not trying to beat anybody’

After the historic, accolade-filled season Cooper Kupp had in 2021, he probably deserves to be the highest-paid wide receiver in football – which would, in turn, make him the league’s richest receiver ever. He led the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdown catches in the regular season, was named Offensive Player of the Year and then went on to win Super Bowl MVP in the Rams’ win over the Bengals.

By every measure, he was the best receiver in the league last season, yet he’s only 19th at his position in annual salary ($15.75 million).

That’s exactly why he and the Rams are negotiating a reworked contract to reward Kupp with a raise. Nothing seems imminent right now, but the two sides have had a “good dialogue,” Sean McVay said Tuesday. And when Kupp does get an extension, he’s not looking to reset the wide receiver market.

He just wants a fair deal.

“I don’t think that’s really kind of the approach that I take,” Kupp said of becoming the highest-paid receiver, via ESPN. “I definitely think there’s a place you want to be. There’s a place that you feel like is fair. A place for me and for this organization. … I’m not trying to beat anybody. I’m not trying to compare myself to anyone else. It’s more about being in a place that’s just right for both sides.”

Kupp isn’t making a big deal about his contract, which has two years left on it. He’s not holding out for a raise, choosing to attend the first day of the Rams’ offseason workout program on Tuesday.

He feels it’s important to be there, joking about hiding McVay’s hair gel and Les Snead’s bike. But he’s also there to work with his teammates and set the base for the 2022 season.

It seems likely that at some point this offseason, Kupp will get the raise he deserves. How much more he makes per year remains to be seen, but he’s making about half what the top-paid receiver, Tyreek Hill, is making per year ($30 million).

At the very least, he should top $20 million in base salary, which would put him in the top 10, just ahead of his former teammate, Brandin Cooks.