Rams have a major call coming with Puka Nacua, but timing and structure may matter more than the choice itself
Star receiver is about to get a contract extension.
It’s nearly impossible to get more surplus value than what the Los Angeles Rams have had with Puka Nacua over the past three years. A fifth-round pick, the star wide receiver had 313 receptions for 4,191 yards, 19 touchdowns, a First-Team All-Pro, a Second-Team All-Pro, and several other accolades and records for such a young player. But now, the time to pay for that production has arrived.
Nacua has already played his first three seasons in the NFL, which means the receiver is eligible to get a contract extension this offseason.
Wide receiver market
It’s evident that the Rams will want to keep Nacua around for years to come. Beyond his production as a receiver, he embodies everything that general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay look for in a player — his leadership, ability and willingness to block.
So it’s not a question of if Nacua will get a new deal or not. It’s about when and for how much. In regards to when, the smartest approach is the sooner the better — you can see how expensive it got for Ja’Marr Chase with the Cincinnati Bengals ($40.25 million) compared to what Justin Jefferson had gotten ($35 million) a year earlier.
There’s a material downside to signing a player earlier — the extra year of a cheap deal plus the injury risk are real factors. However, securing great players to long-term extensions tends to be better for the locker room and for contract structure.
The how much is more complicated. Chase and Jefferson were slightly more productive and had the first-round pedigree, but Puka has the cap inflation in his favor.
Spotrac projects that Nacua will get a four-year, $154 million deal — which would be $38.5 million per season on yearly average. But don’t be surprised if the Rams go beyond Chase’s number, maybe with a team-friendlier structure, just to lock the receiver up as soon as possible.
Puka Nacua finished the 2025 season with 129 receptions, 1,820 scrimmage yards, and 11 total touchdowns. Now, it’s time to reap the benefits and cash in.
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