Getting positive value out of players, regardless of what round they are selected in during the NFL draft, is what teams strive for around the league. ESPN’s Matt Miller and Jordan Reid recently conducted a list of the top 50 draft steals in the last decade, and Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams came in at No. 4.
The only three players ahead of Kupp were Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Davante Adams. All three of those players were also taken in the third round or later in their respective drafts.
Ahead of the 2017 NFL draft, Kupp ran a 4.62 40-yard dash and was coming from a smaller college in Eastern Washington. Kupp produced gaudy numbers in college, but many were skeptical if his game would translate at the next level.
After running a 4.62-second 40-yard dash, many evaluators questioned whether Kupp had the speed necessary to survive long-term in the NFL. But the third-rounder quickly outplayed his draft slot and took on an expanded role during his third season. One of the best route runners in the league, Kupp has a natural feel and understanding of how to get open, no matter the coverage. A huge 2021 season (145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns) led him to AP Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl LVI MVP honors. — Reid
The Rams weren’t concerned with his lack of game-changing speed and the competition he faced in college, selecting him with the 69th overall pick in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. In his first two seasons, he continued to show flashes of being a well-rounded wideout, combining for 102 receptions, 1,435 yards, and 11 touchdowns playing alongside guys like Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, and Sammy Watkins.
When Kupp entered his third season with the Rams, he began transcending into one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Fast forward to now and Kupp now has an Offensive Player of the Year award and a Super Bowl MVP under his belt for his efforts in the 2021 campaign.
While it’s certainly a different league now, Kupp already has the fourth-most receptions (508), the fourth-most receiving yards (6,329), and the fifth-most receiving touchdowns (46) in franchise history. Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Henry Ellard, and Elroy Hirsch are the names above Kupp in those categories.
Entering his age-30 season, Kupp remains one of the premier wide receivers in the league due to his uncanny ability to get open and create yards after the catch. The Rams unquestionably nailed the selection of Kupp and the All-Pro wideout is undoubtedly one of the best value picks in the NFL draft over the past decade.
