No one saw Puka Nacua bursting onto the scene the way he has. Nacua probably didn't even think he'd become a superstar as quickly as he did. In three short seasons, he's become one of the best receivers in football, setting rookie records in 2023 and leading the NFL in receptions and receiving yards per game in 2025.
Heading into his fourth season with the Los Angeles Rams, there's no reason to think he won't continue to get better. After contending for Offensive Player of the Year last season, he's one of the favorites to win it this year – and is unquestionably one of the Rams' most important players of 2026.
He comes in at No. 3 on our list, only behind two reigning award-winners.
How he got here
The Rams used a fifth-round pick on Nacua in 2023, selecting
him out of BYU at No. 177 overall. He was a top candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season and a contender for Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, continuing to put up massive numbers each and every season.
Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which means he's set to become a free agent after the season if he isn't extended before March. All signs point toward the Rams keeping Nacua long-term.
2025 stats
16 games (15 starts): 166 targets, 129 catches, 1,715 yards, 10 touchdowns. 10 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD
Projected role
Nacua is a do-it-all player for the Rams, which is what makes him so valuable and special. He catches screen passes, takes handoffs on jet sweeps, runs deep routes, goes over the middle in traffic. You name it, he does it. And he does it all at an exceptional level.
He'll remain the Rams' No. 1 receiver this season, even with Davante Adams still in Los Angeles. Nacua is a high-volume target who Matthew Stafford loves throwing the ball to, no matter how tight the coverage may be. He's averaged 167 targets per season in his career, a number that's unlikely to decline much, if at all, in 2026.
One thing to know
Nacua has had the highest receiving grade of any wideout in the NFL in each of the last two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. In 2025, his receiving grade of 96.2 was the highest ever in PFF history, showing just how outstanding he was last season. In 2024, his 92.6 grade was best among all wide receivers, edging out Nico Collins (92.3) for the highest grade at the position.
Why he's important
I was close to putting Nacua at No. 2 on this list, because he's just that important to the team – especially given the lack of wide receiver depth behind him and Adams. However, even at No. 3, it shows his value to the Rams. He's led the team in receiving yards each of the last three years and was a big reason they finished with the No. 1-ranked offense in the NFL last year.
As productive as Adams is, he's not as versatile as Nacua. Nacua can line up inside, out wide, in the backfield, go in motion, and everything in between. When it's third-and-short, he can take a jetsweep and pick up the first down – or score a touchdown like he did last year against the Titans.
And he's an outstanding blocker, which is crucial for any receiver in McVay's offense. He's not afraid to block a defensive end on a toss or go out and find a DB to block. There may not be a wide receiver more valuable to his team than Nacua is to the Rams.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 26 most important players for 2026 – No. 3: WR Puka Nacua
