The Seattle Seahawks are banking on Cooper Kupp and new quarterback Sam Darnold forging an instant connection and sparking an offensive renaissance in the Emerald City.
Kupp, who became the prize receiver of this free agent class, agreed to terms with the Seahawks on a three-year deal worth $45 million, landing in an offense alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba that Seattle is betting leads a charge towards the postseason.
Tuesday, Kupp explained his decision to sign with the Seahawks.
“The biggest thing is just the people that this organization has brought in,” Kupp told the Seahawks’ official website. “That was the selling point that Coach Mike [Macdonald] brought, that John [Schneider] had talked about; it was about the people. All the players I talked to, just the culture of this organization, the winning culture of this organization, that’s something I wanted to be a part of.
“It’s that culture, it’s a culture of winning. For a long time, the 12s have made this a renowned environment to play in. It’s always something you prepared for when you came up here. It was my favorite thing walking out of the locker room and breathing the Northwest air. It’s like, ‘Man, this is just a special place to be.’ You go out there and you’ve got the fans creating such an electric environment. They’ve always been cheering against me, now I get to be a part of that.”
Kupp arrives on the heels of catching 67 passes for 710 yards and six touchdowns last season, with the Los Angeles Rams, a move that the Seahawks hope brings out the best in Darnold, given that they both thrive on short and intermediate passes.
Least season, Kupp posted an Average Depth of Target of 8.2 yards, while Darnold feasts on underneath throws with a 72.9 percent completion percentage on throws between one and ten yards.
“I think him and Sam Darnold will have an instant connection,” former NFL wide receiver Brandon Stokley told me Sunday. “He’ll be a guy that Sam looks for when they need to make a play. You might have to have a plan for him to stay healthy. I don’t think playing him 50-60 plays a game is a good idea.”
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