General manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald looked at what they had after the 2024 season and decided a lot needed to be changed offensively, but hardly anything needed to change defensively. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was fired, and a lot of players left.
Traded were quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf, two productive players on the field but whose leadership skills were in question, and receiver Tyler Lockett, whose production had diminished but was a high-character person. One player who replaced them was Cooper Kupp.
Kupp was released by the Seahawks' NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams, because his cap hit was massive and he had been injury-plagued for quite some time. The Rams also have good receiver depth, so making a move to clear depth made sense. Still, the Rams' loss is the Seahawks' win.
Cooper Kupp making the best waves with the Seattle Seahawks
Klint Kubiak certainly thinks so. Not only did Kupp have a very good Week 2 after an underwhelming Week 1, but Kupp is just as big a help on a young Seattle roster in the locker room.
According to the official Seahawks site, Kubiak said, "He's one of the best teammates I've ever been around. He's a leader, and it's no BS, like Sam said, he's in there as long as the QBs are. He's got great questions, he's always pushing our offense forward and pushing the coaches as well."
This is likely how Kupp has been for his entire career. He wants to know things before they must be known. Preparation is a real key to success, and Kupp knows it. Plus, what he learns he can then pass on to his fellow players.
This also implies that the wide receiver could choose to retire from playing and go into coaching. He likely would be a good one. He does have a three-year deal with Seattle, however, so if he does start coaching, it won't be for a bit.
That is especially true if he continues to play as he did in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He caught seven of his eight targets for 90 yards, and he split his time between playing in the slot and out wide. His versatility is a boon to what Klint Kubiak wants to try to do.
He is also needed to pull some of the focus off fellow wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If JSN is the only productive wideout, then the Seattle Seahawks' offense is going to be limited. Instead, Kupp might have needed one game to adjust to Kubiak's scheme and Kubiak's scheme to adjust to Kupp, and the rest of the year could be great.