Puka Nacua is arguably the best value in the NFL. He’s in the upper echelon of wide receivers league-wide, and (for now) he’s only set to count $5.8 million against the Los Angeles Rams’ salary cap.
In other words, as things currently stand, one of the best and most productive offensive players in the NFL currently costs less than 2% of the cap.
There’s a reason we keep emphasizing “as things currently stand” and “for now,” because Nacua is eligible for an extension and given the caliber of player
he is, it would be outrageously shocking if the Rams didn’t get a long-term deal done with their young wideout. In all likelihood, that deal will eclipse the $168.6 million total value of Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s record-setting extension that was signed earlier this offseason.
While visions of dollar signs of that magnitude would grab anyone’s attention, Nacua is doing his best to keep his focus on football, especially after his headline-grabbing offseason so far.
“I know that my job is to come up here and be with the guys and compete every single day, and that’s been kind of my mindset,” Nacua said at OTAs this week. “If I can continue to improve as a person, I know that the coaches and the people around me are helping me improve as a football player, so those are the things that I can control, and hopefully will allow those other things to handle themselves.”
Is it a boilerplate response? Sure. Is that far better than the alternative? Absolutely.
Again, this is almost certain to get done. Barring unique and dreadful circumstances, you don’t let talents like Nacua walk away in free agency. But the longer Nacua goes staying out of the headlines and continuing to impress on the field, even if it’s just during offseason workouts, the easier this will be to wrap up if you’re the Rams.
In follow-ups after the above quote, Nacua was asked if he’s thought at all about what his next contract could look like, whether it comes from the Rams or someone else.
His answer? Not really.
“I haven’t really thought about it. I enjoy playing football, it’s been the biggest dream come true,” Nacua said, adding: “I couldn’t imagine myself playing anywhere eels, but it’s been fun to go out here and be around these guys, and like I said, I’ll let all those things handle them self.”
There’s no reason to assume Nacua will be wearing a different uniform in 2027 or any year in the foreseeable future. He’s a cornerstone of one of the best rosters in the league and the current Super Bowl favorites, at least as far as the sportsbooks are concerned. He’s saying all the right things for now, and as long as that continues it should be smooth sailing between now and when he puts pen to paper on a record-breaking extension.
