The Los Angeles Rams kickstarted the offseason with a blockbuster trade that sent quarterback Jared Goff and three draft picks to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford.
There had been much speculation surrounding the team’s plans under center following a disappointing 2020 NFL season for the offense. The bulk of their struggles had been linked to Goff’s underwhelming play throughout the year.
As a result, the Rams are set to move on from the former No. 1 overall pick and replace him with Stafford. While Goff himself has already bid adieu with a heartfelt farewell message to fans, teammates like wide receiver Cooper Kupp are still bracing for the impending change.
Kupp took to Instagram to share a post showing some appreciation for Goff, the only quarterback he has had in the NFL:
The love from Kupp hardly comes as any surprise considering how close he had become to Goff through the years. After all, the duo formed quite a bond after he joined the Rams as a rookie back in 2017 and their rapport translated into a quick connection on the field.
Kupp wasted no time establishing himself as Goff’s favorite target in the passing game upon his arrival. This resulted in some pretty impressive numbers as the pair combined to tally 288 receptions for 3,570 yards and 24 touchdowns over the last four seasons.
Kupp’s appreciation is indicative of the kind of impact Goff had in helping with this development as one of the most talented, young wideouts in the NFL. The two will have a chance to catch up when the Lions pay a visit to SoFi Stadium at some point in the 2021 NFL season.
For now, Kupp, Robert Woods and the rest of the receiving corps will be busy preparing to catch passes from a known gunslinger like Stafford. Although the pecking order should not change too much, it will be interesting to see who emerges as the new go-to in the passing game.
