Cooper Kupp isn’t following the NFL playbook for negotiating a contract extension.

Instead of sitting out voluntary workouts while seeking a better deal, as some players on other teams are doing this week, Kupp was an enthusiastic participant when the Rams opened their offseason program on Tuesday in Thousand Oaks.

The wide receiver wants to bond with teammates and be in on the start of creating the Rams’ 2022 offense.

Plus, he would hate to miss out on pranking Coach Sean McVay and General Manager Les Snead.

“Some guys do different approaches. I’m not saying one approach is better than another,” Kupp said during a Zoom call with reporters, referring to players who stay away until their new deals are set.

“But I think (it’s good to be) here, being able to hide Sean’s hair gel in the morning, little things like hide Les’ bike,” Kupp said, or rigging someone’s desk, a la Jim vs. Dwight in “The Office,” so “his pen drawer only opens two inches.”

“Being here gives you a more tactical approach to things,” Kupp deadpanned.

The light tone might say something about the Rams’ mood as they got back to work less than 10 weeks after winning the Super Bowl.

And it might show why the Rams believe they can reach a deal with Kupp that doesn’t break the salary cap bank but rewards the 28-year-old for being named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP.

Kupp currently is the league’s 19th-highest-paid wide receiver under the three-year, $47.25 million contract extension he signed before the 2020 season.

The price for top receivers went up with the new league-high contract signed by Davante Adams with the Las Vegas Raiders (five years, $140 million) and new top-10 deals for Tyreek Hill with the Miami Dolphins (four, $120 million), Stefon Diggs with the Buffalo Bills (four, $96 million) and Christian Kirk with the Jacksonville Jaguars (four, $72 million).

Other receivers negotiating new deals include the San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel and the Tennessee Titans’ A.J. Brown, both of whom are sitting out.

But Kupp, who led the league’s receivers in catches (145), yards (1,947) and touchdowns (16), said he doesn’t insist on being the highest-paid at the position.

“I don’t think that’s really kind of the approach that I take,” Kupp said. “(Financially), I think there’s definitely a place where you want to be, there’s a place that I think you feel is fair, and a place both for me and this organization.

“I’m not trying to beat anybody. I’m not trying to compare myself to anyone else. It’s more of just being in a place that is just right for both sides.”

The Rams went into the offseason hoping to work out extensions for quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Kupp. Stafford agreed to a four-year, $160 million extension on March 19. A deal for Donald is “in progress,” Snead said on March 22.

“I think we’ll be able to figure out what is a good way to accommodate both sides,” McVay said Tuesday when asked specifically about Kupp, saying the Rams have had “good dialogue” with representatives for Kupp and Donald.

Donald, as usual, was among the Rams players who skipped the start of voluntary offseason workouts.

“You are totally mindful and understanding that these are voluntary,” McVay said. “As long as we have the open dialogue, that’s the important thing to me.”

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This phase of the offseason program is limited to meetings, strength and conditioning and injury rehabilitation. The Rams ramp up to organized team activities (OTAs) on May 23, which will include players selected in the April 28-30 NFL draft. A mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 7-9.

Going to the Feb. 13 Super Bowl left the Rams with a shorter offseason, so McVay said they’ll ease into physical activity.

Stafford said he had a non-surgical “procedure thing” – reported to involve his throwing arm – adding that he feels “pretty good.”

McVay, who is also up for a contract extension, sounded as chipper as ever after an offseason in which he rejected TV networks’ interest in making him a broadcaster.

“I know for me personally, it’s great to get these guys back in the building, and you are totally reminded of why you love coaching to be around these players again,” he said.