An offseason of change in Los Angeles included the departure of Matthew Stafford's close friend, Cooper Kupp.
Don't worry: They still stay in touch. But as the Rams quarterback admitted Wednesday, it has required some adjusting.
"Yeah, I've been texting with him some, just checking in on him," Stafford said of Kupp, now with the rival Seahawks, on NFL Network's Schedule Release '25. "He's a few miles away in a different colored jersey and all that kind of stuff, but when we get to talking and texting it's the same old stuff, just giving each other a hard time and having fun. I did ask him about this, I was like 'Am I going to be able to say what's up to you pregame? What's the deal?' He's like 'I'm going to give you a big bear hug.'
"So I'm excited. Obviously it's tough when you've played with a guy and had as much success as we've had together and then move on, but you play this game long enough you understand it's part of the business, and I think he gets that too. But at the same time, I'll be happy to see him. Hopefully he plays great, and we come away with a win. I'm always pulling for him, always pulling for Coop, but always want the Rams to be coming out on top."
The Rams didn't simply let Kupp walk without finding a replacement for him, signing Davante Adams to a two-year, $44 million deal that provides Stafford with a fully capable veteran who brings a well-established reputation for being a playmaker. The hope is the two quickly establish a rapport and Adams ends up producing at a rate higher than Kupp did in his final season, in which he effectively disappeared from the offense for stretches.
If Adams can rediscover some of the form that once made him the top receiver in the league, he'll fit in nicely opposite Puka Nacua. Stafford believes the new partnership will go well.
"Absolutely, he's been great," Stafford said. "Obviously played against him in the division [when Stafford was in Detroit], have been a fan of his from afar on the other sideline for a long time, and what he's been able to do in the league kind of speaks for itself, but then getting to be around him personally every day, working with him, throwing to him, just seeing the kind of professional that he is, he fits right in.
"That's the kind of guys since I've been here in L.A. we've had, I've been lucky enough to throw to a bunch of guys that take the game seriously, love going out and competing and trying to find a way to get better. He's no different, and we're definitely excited to have him and I know for me as a quarterback I feel lucky for all the guys I've been able to throw to, and he's definitely up there."
At 37 and 32 years old, respectively, Stafford and Adams don't have time to waste hoping the long-term plan works out. After reaching the Divisional Round in 2024, the Rams are in win-now mode once again and signing Adams only further signals it.
"I feel good. You've got to go out there and prove it, that's the biggest thing," Stafford said when asked if the Rams could contend for a Super Bowl in 2025. "At the beginning of '21, if I'd have told you we were in the Super Bowl, that wasn't top of mind for me, it was hey, let's go out there and find ways to get better throughout the season. I mean who we started the season with in our opening lineup and who we won the Super Bowl with, it was a different group of guys out on the field in a lot of instances.
"So gotta find ways to continue to get better throughout the season, but I am excited about where we left off last year, and feel good about moving forward with the group of guys that we have, and the guys that we just recently added in the draft as well."
It's early. Stafford wisely isn't making any grand declarations. But there's a quiet confidence in him, especially after agreeing to a restructured deal this offseason.
If everything goes according to plan, Stafford can expect to play meaningful football in January once again. It would be a welcome return for Adams.
