Seahawks Predicted to Cut Veteran WR Cooper Kupp After Super Bowl Win

Seattle may move on from the hometown hero due to declining production and high salary cap hit.

Feb. 27, 2026 at 11:15am

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Fresh off another Super Bowl win, veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp's future with the Seattle Seahawks may be in jeopardy. Despite his postseason heroics, Kupp's regular-season production hit career lows in 2026, leading to speculation that the Seahawks could cut ties with the 32-year-old to free up salary cap space and prioritize extensions for younger cornerstones like Kenneth Walker III and Riq Woolen.

Why it matters

Kupp has been a key contributor to the Seahawks' success, but his declining regular-season numbers and high salary cap hit could make him a potential cap casualty as the team looks to build for the future. This decision would be a tough one for the organization, as Kupp is a hometown hero who played a crucial role in their Super Bowl victory.

The details

According to Sportscasting's Gia Nguyen, Kupp's target rate and yards per route run (1.39) both hit career lows in 2026, as he finished the season with just 593 yards and a career-low two touchdowns. With the emergence of younger receivers like Rasheed Shaheed and Tory Horton, the Seahawks may not be able to justify Kupp's $17.5 million cap hit, especially with a $9 million roster guarantee triggering in mid-February. Cutting Kupp would clear nearly $10 million in cap space, allowing the team to focus on extending key players like Walker and Woolen.

  • Kupp's $9 million roster guarantee will trigger in mid-February 2026.
  • The Seahawks won Super Bowl LX in February 2026.

The players

Cooper Kupp

A veteran wide receiver who has played a key role in the Seattle Seahawks' recent success, including their Super Bowl LX victory. However, his regular-season production declined in 2026, leading to speculation that the team may cut him to free up salary cap space.

Rasheed Shaheed

A younger wide receiver who emerged for the Seahawks in 2026 after being acquired at the trade deadline, potentially making Kupp expendable.

Tory Horton

Another young wide receiver on the Seahawks' roster who could help replace Kupp's production if the team decides to move on from the veteran.

Kenneth Walker III

A key cornerstone of the Seahawks' roster who the team may prioritize extending with the cap space freed up by cutting Kupp.

Riq Woolen

Another young Seahawks player who the team may look to extend with the cap space freed up by cutting Kupp.

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What they’re saying

“Cooper Kupp just secured his second ring in Seattle's Super Bowl LX victory over the Patriots, but the veteran receiver could become a luxury the Seahawks can no longer afford.”

— Gia Nguyen, Sportscasting Writer

“Despite his postseason heroics, Kupp's regular-season production hit career lows in target rate and yards per route run (1.39). He finished with just 593 yards and a career-low two touchdowns in 2026. With Rasheed Shaheed and Tory Horton already on the roster, it's hard to justify Kupp's salary with his current production.”

— Gia Nguyen, Sportscasting Writer

What’s next

The Seahawks will need to make a decision on Kupp's future in the coming weeks, as his $9 million roster guarantee will trigger in mid-February 2026.

The takeaway

This decision highlights the difficult balance teams must strike between loyalty to veteran players and the need to manage the salary cap and build for the future. While Kupp was a key part of the Seahawks' Super Bowl success, his declining regular-season production may force the team to move on, freeing up cap space to retain younger cornerstones like Kenneth Walker III and Riq Woolen.