Seattle Seahawks DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports on Wednesday that the most likely outcome for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is a release since he came out and said the week before the Super Bowl that the Rams were looking to trade him. This mostly has everything to do about Kupp's contract. Although he has lost some gas in recent years due to lower-body injuries, there is expected to be a strong market for the 31-year-old veteran, mainly because of how weak the free-agent market is at the position. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Kupp's release is expected to come on Wednesday. Rapoport thinks Kupp will find a new team quickly, mainly because teams knew that he'd be available this offseason. Since Kupp won the receiving Triple Crown in 2021, he has missed 18 games due to injuries and hasn't been the same. However, depending on his landing spot, Kupp could still have plenty of fantasy potential if he stays on the field.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is expected to be released at the start of the league year on Wednesday. There is still a few more days for the Rams to work out a trade for Kupp, but it doesn't sound like anything is too close. The Rams really have no leverage here, so it's hard to imagine anyone giving up much of anything for Kupp at this point. The Rams already signed his replacement in Davante Adams, so it appears Kupp's days in Los Angeles are numbered. The superstar wideout is owed $29.7 million this year, but the Rams can save $7.5 million by cutting him. The 31-year-old wideout should hit the open market later this week.

The Seattle Seahawks have signed quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year, $110.5 million contract. This deal includes $55 million guaranteed. Just days after trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Seahawks will now turn to Darnold to lead their franchise. After never reaching his full potential after being selected with the third overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold finally found his footing last season in Minnesota. He led the Vikings to an impressive 14-3 record. He threw for 4,319 yards and added 35 passing scores, which were both the fifth-most in the league. Darnold flourished under head coach Kevin O'Connell and threw at least three passing scores in six contests. Darnold will now join Seattle, which finished just short of a playoff bid as they held a 10-7 record. The Seahawks recently parted ways with wide receiver DK Metcalf, which leaves Jaxon Smith-Njigba as Darnold's lone proven wideout. Darnold should be viewed as a solid QB2 in all formats but could enter the low-end QB1 range if Seattle improves their wide receiver room.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to make an offer to free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold. Per Russini, many around the league believe that the 27-year-old will wind up landing in Seattle with the Seahawks. However, the Steelers are exhausting every option in search of their next field general. Darnold is coming off his best season as a pro -- setting career highs across the board en route to a 14-3 record with Minnesota. While some may be left with a bad taste in their mouth due to his meltdown at the end of the regular season that continued into the playoffs, the former USC Trojan was mainly stellar in 2024 and finished as a top-ten fantasy quarterback. Whether he can repeat his success outside Minnesota remains to be seen, but he's undoubtedly drawing strong interest around the league.

The Seattle Times' Bob Condotta writes that Minnesota Vikings impending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold is now an obvious target for the Seattle Seahawks in free agency this offseason after they traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday. Darnold won't be the only QB that the Seahawks explore, but Condotta also says that they will not consider a reunion with Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent QB Russell Wilson. The Seahawks can begin discussing a potential deal with Darnold and his representatives as early as Monday, when the legal tampering period opens. The Vikings had been interested in re-signing Darnold after his career year in 2024, but now he's expected to go elsewhere. Although the former first-rounder looked terrible in the final two games of the year, he threw for 4,319 yards, 35 TDs and 12 interceptions in 17 regular-season games. A repeat of that performance is probably unlikely, especially if he's not back in Minnesota.