WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — Puka Nacua is one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL. He has been since entering the league three years ago. But while he is as gifted of an athlete as any, he has had the privilege of learning under two of the most dangerous receiving threats in the last decade.
Since entering the league as a 5th round draft pick in 2023, the 24-year-old has taken the league by storm. In his rookie campaign, Nacua hauled in 1,486 receiving yards on 105 receptions to go along with six touchdowns — proving to be a real problem for opposing defensive coordinators. Nacua notched seven games of 100+ yards in 2023, tied for third in the NFL. His efforts nearly won him rookie of the year, however he would be beat out by Houston Texans’ standout CJ Stroud.
A sprained PCL held Nacua out for six games in 2024, however the BYU star still managed to total 990 yards on 79 receptions. A divisional round loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Eagles would end the Rams season — a game Nacua managed to snag 97 yards through the Philadelphia snow.
In the 2025 offseason, the Los Angeles Rams announced they would be moving on from Super Bowl 56 MVP Cooper Kupp, electing for a franchise icon to hit the free agent market and start over. Kupp would later join Mike Macdonald, signing with the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks.
Nacua took to Twitter/X when the news broke that Kupp would no longer remain in Los Angeles.
So I thought it was just the NBA trade season
— Puka Nacua (@AsapPuka) February 4, 2025
Nacua spent two seasons under one of the game’s best route runners — someone who could beat any coverage at any time.
“I feel like this is our other coach, Nacua said. “The environment that he [Kupp] created and then as soon as he walked in, how natural it felt with the guys.”
The veteran presence and leadership of Kupp would be an area Los Angeles general manager Les Snead would need to explore in free agency. He explored it well.
Los Angeles signed Davante Adams to a 2-year, 46 million contract to join head coach Sean McVay’s dynamic offense — creating a lethal wide receiver duo alongside Nacua.
The combination of two formidable receiving targets paid off in big ways in 2025.
Los Angeles maintained the league’s best offense, leading the NFL pass yards per game (268.1) and total yards per game (394.6). The Rams also finished the season as the only team to average more than 30 points a game, beating out New England by 1.7 PPG.
The receivers not only helped create the league’s scariest aerial attack, they helped 17-year veteran Matthew Stafford register his best season yet. The former 2009 No.1 overall pick tossed for a league-high 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns, 24 of which were hauled in by Nacua and Adams.
Nacua detailed how both Adams and Kupp have their own way of creating plays against opposing secondaries.
“I think that just a different style of winning, two different body types, two different mentalities of attacking greatness,” Nacua said.
The 24-year-old has developed his own style of play through those learning experiences, while also borrowing from Adams’ creative moves that have him on a clear path toward a future spot in the Hall of Fame.
“It has been great to feel some of those movements and watch some of those patterns,” Nacua said. “The routes that we’ve run in our offense and then adding a new different touch to it, it feels nice. It’s like learning a new dance.”
Los Angeles will need Nacua’s best effort in order to go into the frigid Chicago conditions and leave with a one-way ticket to the NFC Championship game.
