Why Puka is probably the most invaluable receiver within the NFL

Puka Nacua is probably the most invaluable vast receiver within the league. And as a day three draft decide solely within the second season of his rookie contract, there isn’t one other participant at his place wherever near him.

Within the first 25 video games of Odell Beckham Jr.’s profession, he had 15 video games with not less than 100 yards. That’s simply the NFL document, 4 greater than second place, which now belongs to Puka Nacua.

The Rams final decide of the fifth spherical in 2023, Nacua had his eleventh profession 100-yard sport in opposition to the Payments on Sunday, flying previous Justin Jefferson for the second-most such video games in a participant’s first 25 contests. There are usually not many actually elite receivers within the NFL in the present day.

Jefferson. Ja’Marr Chase. And Puka Nacua.

The truth of Nacua as a top-5 NFL receiver has been troublesome for a lot of to simply accept, even amongst Rams followers. The premise of the league getting his draft worth so flawed is so troublesome to grasp, largely as a result of the NFL doesn’t normally get it as flawed as they bought Puka, however that’s all we’re actually right here:

Puka Nacua ought to have been a primary spherical decide based mostly on what he’s in a position to do on a soccer subject. He was a fifth spherical decide as a result of he had issue staying wholesome and was not put able to correctly showcase his expertise at both Washington or BYU. However since attending to the Rams, Nacua has confirmed that it wasn’t his fault that he by no means reached 1,000 yards in school.

Each huge catch from Puka Nacua within the Rams win vs Buffalo

Brief route ideas, his physique management, extending the sphere, soar balls, YAC. Nothing he can’t do. Prime 5 WR in soccer pic.twitter.com/UbbzQB3Xq3

— Soccer Digest (@FoootballDigest) December 9, 2024

And most within the NFL knew they tousled earlier than Nacua’s first profession sport.

Then it was too late.

Puka Nacua 100 yard video games in 2023:

Week 1, 10 catches for 119 yards
Week 2, 15 catches for 147 yards
Week 4, 9 catches for 163 yards
Week 7, 8 catches for 154 yards
Week 13, 4 catches for 105 yards
Week 16, 9 catches for 164 yards
Week 17, 5 catches for 118 yards
Wild Card, 9 catches for 181 yards

Nacua set NFL rookie data for catches (105) and yards (1,486) after which set extra data in his first ever playoff sport.

Puka Nacua 100 yard video games in 2024:

Week 8, 7 catches for 106 yards
Week 11, 7 catches for 132 yards
Week 12, 9 catches for 117 yards
Week 14, 12 catches for 162 yards

And in opposition to the Dolphins, he had 9 for 98. The one cause we aren’t already speaking about Nacua’s second 1,000 yard season is that he missed 5 video games with an harm. The one two receivers with 1,000 yards already are Chase and Jefferson.

The one receivers averaging over 84 yards per sport: Nacua, Chase, Jefferson, and Nico Collins.

Puka is about to make simply $1 million subsequent season after which he has one other yr on his rookie deal left after that. The Rams will certainly lengthen Puka in 2026 simply to get it out of the way in which, at which level he could possibly be pushing for $40 million per season at this charge. And we all know that the Rams don’t thoughts paying it.

They almost tousled as soon as earlier than and by no means bought Puka. They received’t try this once more.