The Los Angeles Rams are heading into the 2026 NFL season as the Super Bowl favorites after their incredible offseason, adding Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett to their already strong defense.
While there will be a lot of focus on the defense, how Puka Nacua plays and handles things in 2026 is going to be a major topic for the Rams and the WR himself.
Nate Atkins of The Athletic noted how Nacua is the one player on the Rams with the most on the line in 2026. With a looming contract that could be north of $160 million total, Nacua needs to prove his off-field issues are behind him.
Rams' Puka Nacua has off-field question to answer during 2026 season
"Nacua spent weeks this offseason in a holistic care facility to try to curb some of these issues, and the Rams are making it clear to him that he will need a pattern of strong behavior to undo the concerns in order to earn the payday that his production justifies," Atkins writes.
The off-field concerns for the Rams are the only thing holding them back from spending a fortune to keep him on the team.
At 25 years old, Nacua might be the best WR in the NFL. He had 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns on 129 receptions last season, and also added 105 rushing yards and a touchdown on top of that as well.
His 95.3 yards-per-game in his NFL career is the highest mark of any WR in league history. In three seasons, he has 4,191 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in 44 games played. That's some incredible production.
MORE: Rams urged to trade for Patriots’ DeMario Douglas to fix WR3 problem
There's no denying that Nacua is one of the most talented players in the NFL, and maybe the best WR in the entire league.
A contract extension for him would likely be north of $160 million over four years. That is, if these off-field concerns can be washed away.
For now, that isn't the case, as the Rams are clearly concerned about Nacua's off-field issues right now. If he could put those issues behind him, then he could be in store for a major new deal next offseason.
That's why Nacua has the most on the line and the most to prove this upcoming season. It's not so much his on-field production, but rather if he can handle himself off the field. If he does that, Nacua could be in store for a major payday.
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