As the Los Angeles Rams enter the middle of the 2026 offseason, they’ll need to start making decisions on players whom they plan on extending to long-term contracts. Heading into year four, Puka Nacua, Steve Avila, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, and others are eligible for contract extensions. With a player like Nacua, getting a deal done sooner rather than later may be in the team’s best interest.
On Monday, the Rams wide receiver likely just got more expensive. The Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Jaxon
Smith-Njigba agreed to a four-year contract worth up to $168.6 million, including $120 million guaranteed, with an average of $42.15 million per year. While the Seahawks picked up Smith-Njigba’s fifth-year option, an extension certainly isn’t surprising. The deal makes Smith-Njigba the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
There was always going to be a race to see who became the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver between Smith-Njigba and Nacua. By getting a deal done early, the Seahawks are able to do that for their franchise player while also saving themselves money in the long haul. With the Smith-Njigba deal getting done so early, it potentially cost the Rams a couple million dollars per season. The $42.15 million per year and $120 million guaranteed is likely where the Nacua contract now starts.
It’s possible that the Rams and Nacua could simply look to beat Smith-Njigba’s $120 million guaranteed and get the APY between Ja’Marr Chase’s $40.25 million and Smith-Njigba’s $42.15 million. However, if Nacua wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver, he has certainly earned that.
Over the past two years, Nacua is second in the NFL in receptions and yards behind only Smith-Njigba. With that said, on a per-game basis, Nacua leads by a wide margin. In fact, Nacua’s 95.3 yards per game in his career are the most in NFL history. Nacua is second in NFL history in total receiving yards for a player in their first three years. The Rams wide receiver is also fourth in receptions for a player in their first three seasons in NFL history.
The Rams wide receiver arguably should have won Rookie of the Year in 2023 after setting the rookie receiving yards and receptions record in the same season. He also arguably should have won the Offensive Player of the Year in 2025. Still, through three seasons, he’s a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler.
Prior to Smith-Njigba signing his extension, his market value was $37.7 million in average annual salary compared to Nacua’s $38.7 million, according to Spotrac. In other words, Spotrac saw Nacua getting a more valuable contract than Smith-Njigba previously. Again, the number for Nacua likely starts at $42 million.
It’s hard to fault the Rams for waiting to potentially get Nacua done later in the offseason. With the Seahawks having another year of control, they may have anticipated that deal getting done next year. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
The Rams will now have a decision to make. Is Nacua valuable enough to the offense and worth over $40 million per year? Head coach Sean McVay has been able to get solid production out of mid-round wide receivers that fit the archetype needed in the offense. Nacua has also dealt with minor injuries throughout his career in the NFL. With the Rams in an all-in season, it wouldn’t make sense to trade Nacua this summer. However, a tag-and-trade situation would be on the table next offseason.
For the Rams to have any leverage in contract negotiations, they almost need to take a wide receiver early in the draft. With Smith-Njigba getting paid and Nacua entering the final year of his contract, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility that the Rams’ wide receiver holds out during training camp. Whatever happens, this is going to be one of the top Rams storylines to follow this offseason.
