The Las Vegas Raiders selected wide receiver Jack Bech in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite being drafted less than a month ago, the Senior Bowl winner looks like a great fit in his new home. Many evaluators are excited to see how he performs in his rookie year and are already placing high expectations on him.
Raiders Rookie WR Jack Bech Is Like Puka Nacua, NFL Analyst Claims
Speaking on a May 16 edition of the “Ross Tucker Podcast,” NFL analyst Greg Cosell compared Bech to Los Angeles Rams top wideout Puka Nacua.
“I came away watching this kid, thinking that there were similarities to Puka Nacua…”@GregCosell with a strong comparison for Raiders WR Jack Bech: pic.twitter.com/z2rYU2hdbQ
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod)
“I came away watching this kid thinking that there were similarities to Puka Nacua stylistically, and people have to remember, it’s easy now to say, ‘Oh, you’re nuts,” Cosell said.
“Look at Nacua. But Nacua was a fifth-round pick, and again, it’s the way he’s deployed in the Rams offense. They don’t ask Nacua to line up at boundary x and win one-on-one on the outside. They don’t ask him to do that. It’s not what he is, and I thought Bech was somewhat similar stylistically to Nacua when I finished watching his tape,” he added.
It’s high praise for Bech, who still has yet to log his first snap in a game in the NFL. Nacua has earned 2,476 yards and nine touchdowns in his two-year career. He has also been to a Pro Bowl and earned an NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
With Nacua’s emergence, the Rams felt they could afford to move on from franchise icon Cooper Kupp. Nacua initially burst on the scene as a rookie in 2023. The fifth-round pick shocked many by producing like a legitimate weapon for quarterback Matthew Stafford from Week 1.
As a second-round pick, Bech having success would be less of a surprise. That said, reaching Nacua’s height would still be a major accomplishment.
Bech Outshines Nacua’s College Output
While the comparison alone is notable, there is reason to believe Bech could outshine Nacua in the NFL. Despite the difference in draft status, the collegiate numbers are the true reason for Raiders fans to have higher expectations for Bech than merely Nacua.
Nacua’s best college season saw him earn 805 yards and six touchdowns. Heading into the NFL, Nacua was also trending down from that number. Bech, meanwhile, was trending up in his final college season in a year that saw him outearn Nacua. Bech earned 1034 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024 to Nacua’s 625 yards and five touchdowns.
If Bech can keep that higher pace in the NFL, there is no reason for believers not to expect even greater things out of the rookie.
Will the new Raiders wide receiver deliver?