Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
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Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
In the 2026 NFL offseason, the Los Angeles Rams have created headlines. They made a big trade for Trent McDuffie, signed free agent Jaylen Watson, and retained many of their pending free agents.
However, the biggest noise maker has been wide receiver Puka Nacua.
Nacua is entering the fifth-year of his rookie contract, and is awaiting a big extension like NFC West rival counterpart, Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
However, a lawsuit against Nacua regarding assault and battery allegations was filed on Wednesday, March 25. TMZ reported that the wide receiver is being accused of yelling an antisemitic slur and biting a woman’s shoulder.
While the Rams have remained silent since the news broke, former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver and pro-bowler T.J. Houshmandzadeh has not been silent on the matter.
The lawsuit and public-relations concerns leads Houshmandzadeh to believe the Rams should hold off extending Nacua and draft a wide receiver with their first-round pick (13th overall).
T.J. Houshmandzadeh
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T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Emmanuel Acho Voice Their Concerns Over Puka Nacua Drama
In article from Yahoo Sports, T.J. Houshmandzadeh shares his take on what the Los Angeles Rams approach in the 2026 NFL Draft should be to avoid a market-setting contract.
“If you’re the Rams, do you want to stay in this business at the cost that it’s going to cost you to stay in this business?” Houshmandzadeh asked.
The former pro-bowler focused on roster construction in his argument. He claims that drafting a top wide receiver prospect adds leverage and flexibility, rather than locking the Rams in a record-breaking extension.
“If they draft a receiver in the first round, I don’t know if they [are] signing Puka to an extension,” Houshmandzadeh said in the Speakeasy podcast. “Franchising next season, not this upcoming season, the following season, and trading.”
“Let them draft a receiver in the first round. And this receiver shows them he can do what Puka was doing. Even if it ain’t that level, if it’s close enough,” added Houshmandzadeh to emphasize a level of pressure added on Nacua.
Ex-NFL linebacker, Emmanuel Acho furthers Houshmandzadeh’s argument by explaining that Nacua painted a target on his back.
“Is Puka being targeted? Yes. But did Puka paint the target on his back? Absolutely,” said Acho.
Acho’s broader argument highlighted that up-and-coming, high-profile athletes often face constant scrutiny when their visibility and wealth grows.
Drafting a wide receiver in the first-round would add more than just depth to an already star-studded roster. It protects the Rams from financial inflation, while attempting to salvage the organization’s reputation.
Puka Nacua
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Houshmandzadeh Offers Advice to Puka Nacua to Help Steer Him Down the Right Path
In the Speakeasy podcast, T.J. Houshmandzadeh shares that he has known Puka Nacua for a long time. After news broke about Nacua’s new scandal, the former NFL wide receiver shot Nacua a text.
“I texted him, been trying to get him on the phone because I talk to him like he’s my son. I don’t talk to him like, ‘Hey, bro.’ I’m going to give it to him the real and raw way because you’ve got to hear these words,” Houshmandzadeh said.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh has known Nacua since before he was drafted. They trained together back in 2023.
“I told him, I said, ‘Puka, when you go out, you probably don’t feel like you need this. Bro, just go ahead and spend that thousand dollars every time you step out into these streets and get security.” he said. “Just pay it because now, you’re going to spend $100K on an attorney. That’s a hundred nights out right there. So just get security to avoid all these situations.’ Hopefully, he’ll start to listen to me.”
Houshmandzadeh attempted to get Nacua on the podcast, following the lawsuit to write his wrongs, but he declined.