{"id":847831,"date":"2026-04-01T20:15:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/847831\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T20:15:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:15:43","slug":"rams-les-snead-raises-eyebrows-with-puka-nacua-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/847831\/","title":{"rendered":"Rams’ Les Snead Raises Eyebrows With Puka Nacua Comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Puka\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during a game against the Arizona Cardinals.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Rams<\/a> know exactly what they have in Pro Bowl wide receiver Puka Nacua<\/a>. At least, they do now.<\/p>\n

Rams general manager Les Snead<\/a> offered significant insight into what exactly the Rams saw in Nacua during the 2023 pre-draft process that solidified him as the target for them. He also touched on just how the wideout has asserted himself in the NFL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The comments come as Nacua and the Rams have reached a crossroads.<\/p>\n

Rams Underestimated Puka Nacua\"Puka<\/p>\n

GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before a game against the San Francisco 49ers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Rams selected Nacua in the fifth-round, selecting him 177th overall in the 2023 draft. But Snead admitted to former Rams Andrew Whitworth<\/a> and Ryan Fitzpatrick<\/a> that Nacua probably should have been drafted sooner. He raised eyebrows<\/a> for his interviewers with his explanation.<\/p>\n

Snead acknowledged Nacua\u2019s lack of ideal top-end speed in the 40-yard dash as a likely factor. He also questioned the efficacy of applying the metric to a game setting.<\/p>\n

Snead said LA was \u201cintentional\u201d in their evaluation, also noting Nacua\u2019s utilization in college.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say if we knew he was going to be this elite, we probably should have taken him earlier, and I truly believe that,\u201d Snead told Fitzpatrick and Whitworth on the \u201cFitz & Whit<\/a>\u201d podcast episode that aired on April 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, at BYU\u2013probably based on their offense and some things like that his last year\u2013he didn\u2019t run a lot of routes down the field. It was better for them to get him the ball on, if you want to call some of those, I call it \u2018jet-sweep.\u2019 Shuttle-pass, whatever we call those things, type passes\u2013handoffs, the bubble screens\u2013because he could, I mean, he was Larry Csonka<\/a> in the [Cougars\u2019 offense]. We did call him Deebo of the Mountain West.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snead cited the two traits that Nacua displayed that caught the Rams\u2019 eye. Enough so that they still selected him ahead of some pre-draft projections<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rams head coach Sean McVay<\/a>, naturally, was pivotal in the decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe stayed grounded, right, when he did run the end breakers. So, we felt like\u2013and Sean felt like\u2013the vision, we could bring him to life,\u201d Snead said, lauding the NFL\u2019s reigning receptions leader\u2019s route-running prowess.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you stay grounded on those end breakers of catching the ball and running with it, right, becoming Larry Csonka in the middle of the field, versus on just bubble screens and things like that. So, that was a trait that we as a scouting staff, front office, and most importantly Sean, had a vision for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Puka Nacua Changes Opponents\u2019 Opinions\"Puka<\/p>\n

GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts during practice for the Pro Bowl Games.<\/p>\n

Snead noted that there is some savviness involved<\/a> with Nacua\u2019s impact. Opponents often underestimate the Rams\u2019 star before facing him. Snead said those opinions change after the initial matchups.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople have told me, that have played us, if you\u2019re watching him on film, there\u2019s this element like, \u2018I can cover that guy,\u2019\u201d Snead said. \u201cBecause it\u2019s not at the top of the route, he\u2019s just snapping out of it, and next thing you know, there\u2019s immediate explosive separation. But everyone will circle back after they play him for the first time and go, \u2018Okay, I get it now.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s an element of, right, size, mass, force. There\u2019s physics, there\u2019s power there, okay. When he goes to separate, he just, I guess, outpowers you out of that break.\u201d<\/p>\n

He ranks second in receiving yards and fourth in receptions since 2023, per Stathead<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nacua has thoroughly outplayed his draft slot and, more importantly, his rookie contract with the Rams. Nacua\u2019s off-field antics could serve as fodder for the Rams in negotiations. But McVay already expressed a desire to keep him with the franchise as long as possible.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tJosh Buckhalter<\/a> covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Rams\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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