{"id":857344,"date":"2026-04-06T18:37:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T18:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/857344\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T18:37:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T18:37:25","slug":"puka-nacua-has-put-himself-in-a-tricky-situation-with-the-rams-and-you-cant-blame-the-franchise-at-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/857344\/","title":{"rendered":"Puka Nacua has put himself in a tricky situation with the Rams and you can’t blame the franchise at all"},"content":{"rendered":"

The star wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams might have cost himself a shot at being the highest-paid receiver in the league this offseason.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Jan
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJan 25, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half in the 2026 NFC Championship Game at Lumen Field.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSteven Bisig-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The offseason has been a troubled one for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua. A tremendous regular season got derailed in late December, when he\u00a0did an antisemitic dance on a livestream<\/a>\u00a0while also saying on the stream that\u00a0NFL referees invent calls to get on TV\u00a0and implying that concussions aren\u2019t real. Nacua also tried to invite those streamers to the Rams\u2019 facility during a game week, something that invoked the wrath of head coach Sean McVay. <\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t stop there, unfortunately. Clips of Nacua appearing to be intoxicated in public and with various influencers began circulating on social media. In March,\u00a0a lawsuit was filed<\/a> against Nacua, claiming he bit two women at a dinner while intoxicated and made another antisemitic statement. Nacua\u2019s lawyer did not deny the bite, but did deny the statement. <\/p>\n

Nacua has checked himself into a rehab care facility<\/a>. However, the damage has already been done for his relationship with the Rams.<\/p>\n

Puka\u2019s future with the Rams in jeopardy<\/p>\n

With all of these incidents, Nacua\u2019s relationship with the Rams has gotten thinner and thinner. Last week, general manager Les Snead said \u201cYou need to be on your P\u2019s and Q\u2019s in both categories to earn that type of contract. Right now we\u2019re focused on the human being, and then we\u2019ll get to that stuff.\u201d in regards to Nacua\u2019s extension talks. <\/p>\n

Now, The Athletic\u2019s Jourdan Rodrigue reports that those extension talks have halted<\/a>, and may not pick up again. \u201cThe Rams made it clear publicly and even more firmly behind the scenes in recent weeks that Nacua will have to correct his off-field behavior to earn the type of contract his league-leading play would typically merit.\u201d<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t believe that an early extension is now a guarantee, even if the Rams have been clear they\u2019d like Nacua to be with them for the long term\u2026If they still aren\u2019t totally sure or need more time, they could even use the franchise tag on Nacua next spring \u2014 a move they\u2019ve typically avoided.<\/p>\n

Jourdan Rodrigue<\/p>\n

For things to have gotten to this point shows how disastrous this offseason has been. Multiple sources have indicated to me that the Rams were ready to make Nacua the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Now, it seems like the Rams don\u2019t trust Nacua at all. <\/p>\n

The last time the Rams used the franchise tag was back in 2018 for safety Lamarcus Joyner. It has been seven straight offseasons without using it, one of the longest streaks in the NFL. <\/p>\n

Such a tricky spot for the #Rams<\/a> and Puka Nacua.<\/p>\n

-Can’t let him walk for just a third round comp pick (maybe)
-Can’t trust him enough to pay him.
-Can’t trade him in a Super Bowl window without a really strong return, which might not happen.<\/p>\n

Tough pickle. https:\/\/t.co\/IKLhvZWvLr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 AJ Schulte (@AJSchulteFB) April 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Los Angeles Rams in between rock and hard place for upcoming 2026 NFL Draft<\/p>\n

The Rams are in a bit of a bind if they go wide receiver early in the draft. I\u2019ve written before that the ideal round one receiver fills Adams\u2019 role as the X. However, if Nacua is out of their long-term plans\u2026then what? They need both, but only have the one first-round pick. <\/p>\n

Omar Cooper Jr. and Makai Lemon, who would both be redundant with Puka<\/a>, would become valuable without Puka in the picture. However, the Rams can\u2019t just wash Nacua out of the picture. At the same time, they can\u2019t operate like he will be. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s no real easy answer here. Personally, I would still take a receiver to replace Adams, such as KC Concepcion or Jordyn Tyson. If the bridge is gone between the Rams and Nacua, who knows how this could unfold. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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

Los Angeles Rams News<\/p>\n