When the Los Angeles Rams selected Puka Nacua with the 177th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, few could have predicted the fifth-round selection out of BYU would emerge as arguably the most productive wide receiver in football within three seasons.
Given his production, Nacua should already have a long-term extension in hand heading into the final year of his rookie deal. However, a string of off-field incidents, from a controversial Adin Ross livestream in December 2025 to a civil lawsuit alleging assault, followed by a voluntary stint in rehab, have complicated the timeline. However, at Fanatics Fest in New York, Nacua addressed his future with the Rams.
Puka Nacua’s Production Puts Him in Line To Get Lucrative Extension
In his first season, Nacua set the rookie receiving yards record, and in 2025, he led the league in receptions while finishing second in receiving yards. So far in his career, he has 313 catches for 4,191 yards and 19 touchdowns in just 44 games.
According to PFN’s WR Impact Metric, he was the best wideout in the league last season with an impact score of 96.3. Moreover, on PFN’s Top 100 players’ list for the upcoming season, Nacua ranked as the fifth-best player in the league.
When asked if he’d like to stay in Los Angeles, Nacua didn’t hesitate and said, “That’s the plan,” according to Arye Pulli.
#Rams WR Puka Nacua on if he’d like to stay in Los Angeles:
“That’s the plan.” pic.twitter.com/Tb3QXSCS8l
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) July 18, 2026
Nacua’s numbers put him squarely in the tier occupied by Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, so his upcoming contract should reflect that.
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Smith-Njigba signed a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks in March, averaging $42.15 million per year with $120 million guaranteed.
Nacua’s production and consistency arguably warrant surpassing that number, and the more the Rams wait, the higher the price will be.
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The extension delay, though, could carry a silver lining for both sides. Since completing his rehab program and speaking publicly at OTAs in late May, Nacua has stayed out of the headlines for the right reasons.
A quiet offseason from here through training camp gives the Rams’ front office additional confidence that the issues were a rough patch rather than a pattern for the star wideout.
However, what makes this situation more urgent for the Rams is the absence of a viable long-term alternative alongside Nacua. Los Angeles pursued A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this offseason, but backed out over medical concerns, and ultimately decided to continue with Davante Adams.
Adams provides a strong complement for now, but he will be 34-years-old in December. As a result, Nacua is one of the Rams’ cornerstone pieces, and the franchise should try to get a deal done soon.
