The Los Angeles Rams have never been shy about rewarding elite production, but what is taking shape around Puka Nacua this offseason goes beyond a routine extension. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Rams are planning to lock up their star wide receiver as soon as he becomes eligible for a long-term deal — and they understand exactly what that may require.
Rapoport reports that extending Nacua is the organization’s top contractual priority in 2026, the first offseason he can negotiate a long-term extension. The expectation, league-wide, is that the deal could approach — or even exceed — the market-setting contract Ja’Marr Chase signed with the Bengals at $40.25 million per year.
For a player who entered the league as a fifth-round pick, it’s a staggering ascent. For the Rams, it feels inevitable.
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Puka Nacua: From Day 3 Pick to Franchise Cornerstone
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Nacua’s rise is one of the clearest examples of the Rams’ ability to identify talent outside the early rounds of the draft. Selected out of BYU in the fifth round in 2023, he quickly outgrew the “steal” label and entered the league as a dominant force almost immediately.
Now just 24 years old, Nacua is in the third year of a four-year, $4.1 million rookie contract that runs through 2026. His base salary this season sits barely above $1 million — a figure that feels increasingly absurd given his standing in the NFL hierarchy.
Through 12 games in 2025, Nacua has caught 93 passes on 118 targets for 1,186 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 73 rushing yards and another score. He currently leads the NFL in receptions and remains the all-time leader in receiving yards per game at 91.6.
Those are not breakout numbers anymore. They are elite, sustained production.
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Efficiency That Separates Him From the Pack
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What truly elevates Nacua beyond volume receivers is how efficiently he operates within Sean McVay’s offense.
He is averaging nearly 99 receiving yards per game while catching close to 80 percent of his targets — a combination rarely sustained across a full season. His yards per route run sits firmly in elite territory, a metric that places him among the most efficient receivers in football regardless of scheme or quarterback.
Just as importantly, Nacua’s production isn’t confined to one area of the field. He has been effective on underneath routes, intermediate patterns, screens, and vertical shots alike. Defenses have not found a reliable way to take him away, even as his role has expanded and coverage attention has increased.
The Rams ask him to do everything — and he does.
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A Complete Receiver, Not a Situational Star
Nacua’s reliability shows up most clearly on critical downs. He has been particularly dominant on second down, converting at an elite rate and generating a significant share of his total yardage in those situations. That consistency keeps the offense on schedule and allows McVay to maintain his full playbook.
After the catch, Nacua remains one of the most difficult receivers in the league to bring down. His yards-after-catch production underscores his physicality, balance, and vision — traits that separate high-end receivers from players who rely solely on route timing or space.
While his touchdown total may appear modest relative to his yardage, context matters. Red-zone opportunities have been limited rather than inefficient, and recent weeks have shown signs of increased scoring usage. His two-touchdown performance in Week 14 may be less an outlier than a preview.
A Perfect Fit for a Rams Team Built to Win Now
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The timing of Nacua’s emergence could not be better for Los Angeles.
The Rams sit atop the NFC at 10–3, powered by a rejuvenated Matthew Stafford, McVay’s offensive adaptability, and a defense that has quietly become one of the league’s most complete units. While the conference race remains tight, the Rams have consistently looked like a team built for January football.
Nacua is central to that identity. He isn’t just a statistical engine — he is the offensive constant defenses must plan around every week.
That reality is why the Rams are already preparing to pay him like one of the league’s very best.
Why Resetting the Market Makes Sense
Paying a receiver north of $40 million per year is no longer theoretical. The Bengals did it with Chase. The Rams are now prepared to do something similar with Nacua — not as a gamble, but as a reflection of value.
He is young, durable, scheme-versatile, and already producing at a historically efficient level. More than that, he fits the Rams’ long-term offensive vision in a way few players do.
When the extension comes, it will be framed as bold. Internally, it will be viewed as obvious.
For the Rams, Puka Nacua isn’t just a success story. He’s the foundation of what comes next.
