Puka Nacua
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams are gearing up to make Puka Nacua the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Now that the Seahawks have signed WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a record four-year, $168.6 million extension — worth $42.15 million in average annual value — Nacua is next in line to break the bank at the wide receiver position.
Nacua is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract, so an extension will be necessary to keep him in Los Angeles beyond 2026. A former fifth-round pick out of BYU back in 2023, Nacua is coming off a career year. In 2025, he had 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, adding 105 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Los Angeles Rams Have Maturity Concerns with WR Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua & Sean McVay
GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JANUARY 25: Head coach Sean McVay celebrates after a third quarter touchdown from Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game at Lumen Field on January 25, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Nacua has been in the news for all the wrong reasons over the last few months. He drew ire for going on a popular right-wing streamer’s show and making antisemitic remarks, as well as performing an antisemitic dance popular with white nationalists. Also in this livestream, he implied concussions aren’t real and accused NFL referees of inventing calls to get on TV. Nacua later apologized for the dance and said he didn’t know it was antisemitic.
More recently, a lawsuit accused him of biting two women and making an antisemitic statement while intoxicated. Nacua’s lawyer claims he made no such statement. Per his lawyer, Nacua checked into a rehab facility of his own accord back in March, before the lawsuit was filed.
“But it’s my understanding that their concerns significantly increased — especially about Nacua’s well-being — as the offseason continued,” The Athletic’s Jordan Rodrigue wrote. “While Nacua checked into the facility of his own volition, a source with knowledge of his decision said, the team is certainly glad he did.”
“In the background of all of this has also been the question of Nacua’s upcoming contract extension…. The Rams made it clear publicly and even more firmly behind the scenes in recent weeks that Nacua will have to correct his off-field behavior to earn the type of contract his league-leading play would typically merit.”
“McVay has publicly referred to Nacua as a ‘kid’ whose ‘heart he trusts.’ But Nacua is an adult — a 24-year-old man with an infant — who has the autonomy and resources to seek help, and has done so,” Rodrigue continued. “Next, he’ll need to show McVay and other members of the organization who have had their sincere belief in him tested that he can stay out of trouble.”
The Los Angeles Rams Aren’t Afraid to Pivot to Other Players if Need Be
“And, I’d just add this: Let’s not pretend that any Rams player outside of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald has ever been completely untouchable,” Rodrigue wrote. “Since 2021, McVay has pivoted from a former franchise quarterback (Jared Goff) and a fan-favorite franchise receiver (Cooper Kupp), and the Rams even engaged briefly in trade talks about a receiver who McVay intensely pursued in free agency just one year ago (Davante Adams).”
“I don’t believe that an early extension is now a guarantee, even if the Rams have been clear they’d like Nacua to be with them for the long term. But the organization has a natural cushion during which to monitor Nacua, as they don’t typically do early extensions until training camp. If they still aren’t totally sure or need more time, they could even use the franchise tag on Nacua next spring — a move they’ve typically avoided.”