Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua had a career year on the field in 2025. The All-Pro led the NFL with 129 receptions and 107.2 yards per game, and his 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns were his highest marks since the Rams found him in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
When strictly considering Nacua’s on-field production, it seems implausible to suggest that the Rams might not be totally sold on committing to the 24-year-old star long term. Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer shared some intel on his and Conor Orr’s “The MMQB” podcast that makes it plenty believable.
Breer and Orr were discussing the ongoing saga surrounding whether the Philadelphia Eagles will trade A.J. Brown, a star receiver in his own right. Breer reported that Brown gave the Eagles his wish list of four teams: the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and New England Patriots.
Breer also acknowledged reports that the Rams engaged in serious discussions about trading for Brown, and that’s where Nacua inadvertently entered the conversation.
“I’m not sure the Rams were more than a stalking horse here,” Breer said. “I look at it, like, are they doing this to maybe give Puka Nacua a kick in the ass? Things haven’t been perfect with Puka. I’ll say that. I sort of wonder, is it like, ‘Hey, look, we have options here if we need them.'”
Breer added:
“There was something about that whole thing that smelled funny from the very beginning. The only thing I can think of is maybe there’s some sort of mutual benefit for the Rams being involved. The benefit for the Eagles would be obvious, right? Which is, like, we need someone competing with New England for [Brown]. The benefit for the Rams could be, let’s make sure that we’re framing the Puka negotiation that’s coming.
Again, it wasn’t perfect off the field for him last year. Let’s frame that the right way. Let’s see if we can make sure that he knows he doesn’t have us over a barrel here.”
Breer did not cite specifics when describing the Rams’ and Nacua’s relationship as rocky. But there are plenty of candidates to choose from.
After the Rams defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14, Nacua got into it with people off-camera in the Rams’ locker room for going live on Instagram. Then, in mid-December, Nacua “fought” to bring streamers Adin Ross and N3on to the Rams’ facility, but Nacua said Rams head coach Sean McVay “didn’t [expletive] with that” (via Rams Wire).
Nacua still appeared on Adin Ross’ livestream that week, just at a different location. Nacua performed an antisemitic gesture and issued a formal apology, stating he had “no idea” at the time that what he did was perpetuating harmful stereotypes. The Rams and the NFL also issued statements condemning antisemitism.
That night, Dec. 18, the Rams lost a 38-37 overtime heartbreaker to the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks. Immediately after the game, Nacua criticized the refs on X (formerly Twitter). Rams head coach Sean McVay was asked about Nacua’s post during his postgame presser, and McVay was visibly irked.
According to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, the Rams are “out” on Brown after being “scared off by some of the preliminary medical research.” The Rams paid veteran All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams a $6 million roster bonus over the weekend, locking in Adams and Nacua as reigning NFL MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford’s primary targets in 2026.
Regardless, the Rams’ negotiations with Nacua will be fascinating to watch. Nacua is entering the last year of his rookie contract and is eligible for a lucrative extension. In December, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Nacua’s extension would be a “big-time priority” for the Rams this offseason.
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