Jagger May closed by fading Cooper Kupp, arguing that the 32-year-old no longer has a clear path to alpha usage. Clint Kubiak’s scheme will feature Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the slot, pushing Kupp into a redundant, lower-volume role. Seattle’s offensive line is a liability, and Sam Darnold struggles under pressure, further capping passing efficiency. Multiple soft-tissue injuries have sidelined Kupp in back-to-back seasons, and May believes Father Time plus diminished target share relegates him to a low-end WR2 at best. He’d rather draft younger upside bets like Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jaden Reed, or Matthew Golden available in the same neighborhood.

Ryan Heath urged caution on Cooper Kupp even at a WR49 ADP. Kupp dropped below the critical 0.10 1D/RR marker that has signaled late-career decline 68% of the time and ranked just 51st of 69 qualifiers in Average Separation Score after Week 12. Now 33, he joins Klint Kubiak’s offense that ran 11-personnel only 33.8% of the time (31st) and posted a ‑2.0% pass rate over expectation. With slot snaps set to fall and lacking deep-threat juice, Heath prefers Josh Downs or Emeka Egbuka in the same range.

Heath warned drafters not to be enticed by Cooper Kupp even at a modest WR49 cost. Kupp fell under the key 0.10 1D/RR age-cliff threshold in 2024, a marker that predicted decline 68% of the time among past elite WRs. His Average Separation Score dropped to 51st of 69 after Week 12, and he now joins Klint Kubiak’s Seattle attack that ranked 31st in 11-personnel usage, likely forcing Kupp outside more often. With Seattle already leaning run-heavy (-2.0% PROE) and Kupp turning 33 without the deep-speed profile of a Rashid Shaheed type, Heath prefers Josh Downs and Emeka Egbuka at similar prices.

Andy Holloway warned that Cooper Kupp’s eighth-round ADP is propped up by name value, not production. Kupp turned 32 on Father’s Day and is changing teams for the first time in year nine—a profile that has almost never worked. Holloway rattled off failed 31-plus moves by Jordy Nelson, Michael Crabtree, Golden Tate, A.J. Green and Robert Woods (all finished WR43-WR62) and noted only Brandon Marshall and Davante Adams hit after moving, both younger than Kupp. Meanwhile Kupp’s own metrics are cratering: routes per game, snap rate, yards per game, yards after catch per reception and contested-catch rate have all declined for three consecutive seasons. He has logged just 9, 12 and 12 games the last three years. Now he must learn Clint Kubiak’s offense while possibly catching passes from Sam Darnold behind DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Holloway believes historical trends, age-related decline and uncertain quarterback play make Kupp a poor bet compared with similarly priced options such as Stefon Diggs, Jaden Reed or Josh Downs.