Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
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Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after defeating the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs.
For all of the talk about the Los Angeles Rams and star wide receivers, their own homegrown star, Puka Nacua, faces some uncertainty about his future.
Nacua is extension-eligible this offseason. Things have been quiet on that front as the Rams made drastic moves to revamp their roster. That is particularly true on the defense with their blockbuster trade for Trent McDuffie that preceded a historic contract extension.
That has left Nacua in noteworthy company.
Puka Nacua Called Rams’ ‘Most Underpaid’ Player
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon listed Nacua as the Rams’ selection on his list of the “most underpaid players” after the first wave of free agency.
“The 24-year-old superstar is one of the most obvious choices on this list following another huge season,” Gagnon wrote on March 20. “This time, Nacua earned a first-team All-Pro nod while leading the NFL in receptions (129) and receiving yards per game (107.2). Because he was just a fifth-round pick in ‘23, he’s still slated to count just $5.8 million against the cap in the final year of his entry-level contract (unless he signs an extension before then).”
Notably, Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti listed Nacua as a “next-man-up” contract candidate.
“His reckless style of play will make him an annual risk for injury – but it’s also a major reason why he’s largely considered one of the best WRs in all of football across the past 3 seasons,” Ginnitti wrote in February. “The 5th-rounder is now on an expiring contract in LA, holding a $38.5M valuation in our system, but a 4 year, $164M extension certainly seems plausible here.”
Trade Rumor Looms Large for Puka Nacua
Davante Adams, A.J. Brown, Los Angeles Rams
GettyDavante Adams #17 of the Los Angeles Rams and A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles attend an event for Don Julio Tequila.
The Rams could very well have every intention of extending Nacua at whatever it takes. They have not necessarily tipped their hand, either. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wondered if LA’s rumored interest in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for A.J. Brown was a message.
Davante Adams also popped up in the reporting on that situation, but the Rams ultimately backed off their pursuit.
Breer called the Rams a “stalking horse” and wondered if it was a “kick in the a**” for Nacua.
“Things haven’t been perfect with Puka; I’ll say that. And I just–I sort of wonder, is it like, ‘Hey, look. We have options here if we need them,” Breer told Conor Orr on “The MMQB” podcast on March 18.
“The benefit for the Rams could be, ‘Let’s make sure that we’re framing the Puka negotiation that’s coming.’ And look, 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.”
Former Agent Sets Stage for Puka Nacua Gripe
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before a game against the Detroit Lions.
Conversely, former sports agent Joel Corry, now an analyst for CBS Sports, believes McDuffie’s extension could set the stage for contentious talks between Nacua and the Rams. McDuffie became the highest-paid cornerback ever with the four-year, $124 million deal.
Nacua has production and tenure working in his favor in Corry’s estimation of the situation.
“The Rams may have inadvertently created a new problem with the Trent McDuffie deal,” Corry posted on X on March 8. “Puka Nacua would be justified in thinking he should be the NFL’s highest paid WR because he’s a better WR than McDuffie is a CB. He’s also produced for the Rams while McDuffie is a newcomer.”
The Rams will have to make a decision on Nacua sooner rather than later. As a non-first-round pick, they do not get the benefit of a fifth-year option.
Tagging him is the only alternative to a long-term deal if the Rams want to retain Nacua.
They can only use the franchise tag three times. It is also costly, as the average of the top salaries at the position. There are plenty of incentives for the Rams to finalize a decision on Nacua as soon as possible.