The Los Angeles Rams have every reason to reward Puka Nacua with a long-term deal after his rapid rise as one of the NFL’s elite receivers. Still, as he enters the final season of his rookie contract, that extension remains unsigned.
One big reason behind that little wrinkle is a series of off-field issues.
That situation became even more interesting when the Rams made a blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett, taking on his four-year, $160 million contract from the Cleveland Browns.
So where does that leave Nacua and his pending contract extension?
Rams’ Myles Garrett Move Might Complicate Puka Nacua’s Contract Extension
In his recent report, NFL insider Albert Breer shared that the timing of Garrett’s trade could prove to be tricky for Nacua’s extension.
“Puka Nacua’s contract status is one to watch between now and the opener,” Breer remarked. “He’s had his issues off the field, and was in rehab for part of this offseason, but on the field has been everything the Rams could ask for.
“One question I’d have is whether adding Myles Garrett’s contract to the 2026 budget late makes it tougher for the team to take care of Nacua now. Of course, they still have control over Nacua for 2027 with the franchise tag.”
The Rams have been taking that exact approach while extending the players’ contracts.
Per Spotrac, the Rams currently hold $17.3 million in salary cap space. All signs point to the franchise wanting to wait before extending any of its key 2027 free agents this summer. That list includes Nacua, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, and Steve Avila.
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Another reason the Rams might wait before giving the extension is that Nacua is dealing with some ongoing off-field issues.
This offseason, a woman filed a lawsuit alleging that the Rams receiver bit her, and she recently submitted photographs that she says support her claim.
Meanwhile, Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, has not denied that the bite occurred. Instead, he described the incident as mutual “horseplay” and said the legal team plans to file a defamation lawsuit.
Nacua also made some other decisions that put him under the microscope.
Following a victory over the Arizona Cardinals last season, Nacua started livestreaming from the locker room despite the club’s policy banning that activity. Several teammates reportedly asked him to stop recording, making the situation an avoidable talking point after an important win.
However, Nacua has done more than enough on the field to warrant a big-ticket extension.
He broke the rookie receiving yards record during his first NFL season and followed that up by leading the league in receptions in 2025 while finishing second in receiving yards. In only 44 career games, he has already totaled 313 catches for 4,191 yards and 19 touchdowns.
PFN’s WR Impact Metric graded Nacua as the league’s top receiver last season with a 96.3 impact score. He also landed at No. 5 on PFN’s NFL Top 100 Players list for the upcoming season.
Nacua remains one of the most valuable pieces on this loaded Rams roster and a major part of their future. But with financial questions and off-field matters still unfolding, the franchise may prefer to let the situation play out before committing to a massive contract extension.
