Rams Receive: 2025 second-round pick, WR Jacob Cowing

49ers Receive: WR Cooper Kupp

The thought of Cooper Kupp donning a 49ers jersey might be too much for some Rams fans to stomach. But few teams should have more motivation to swing a big receiver trade than the Niners.

The Niners have been close to breaking through and winning a Lombardi Trophy over the last five years. They’ve either played in the Super Bowl or the NFC Championship Game four times in that stretch.

This season, they aren’t trending in that direction. The Niners sit at 3-4, and a slew of injuries has made it harder for them to compete.

The injury news got worse early this week when it was confirmed that Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL. Injuries to Jauan Jennings and Chris Conley are working to compound the Niners’ receiver woes, while Deebo Samuel is recovering from pneumonia.

Trading for Kupp could help the Niners need to get their season back on track. However, convincing the Rams to trade him to a rival might take additional incentive.

That could mean not only giving up the second-round pick that the Rams are reportedly seeking, but also throwing in 2024 fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing.

The rookie was called into action for the Niners last week and flashed with two catches for 50 yards in addition to his punt return duties. He would give the Rams a developmental player on a rookie contract in place of Kupp.