{"id":857941,"date":"2026-04-07T02:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T02:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/857941\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T02:00:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T02:00:23","slug":"rams-projected-to-aggressively-pursue-puka-nacua-replacement-in-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/857941\/","title":{"rendered":"Rams Projected to Aggressively Pursue Puka Nacua Replacement in NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2025, Puka Nacua enjoyed his most productive season since the Los Angeles Rams<\/a> found him in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL<\/a> Draft. <\/p>\n

Nacua, 24, led the league in receptions (129) and yards per game (107.2), along with a career-high 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Sprinkled in there, however, Nacua had some off-field missteps.<\/p>\n

That’s one reason why ESPN’s Mina Kimes and reputed draft expert Daniel Jeremiah wouldn’t be surprised if the Rams aggressively target a wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft<\/a> later this month.<\/p>\n

Kimes hosted Jeremiah on her “The Mina Kimes Show Featuring Lenny<\/a>” to do a war-room style mock draft.<\/p>\n

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Kimes proposed that the Rams could trade with the Cincinnati Bengals to move up from the No. 13 to the No. 10 overall pick.<\/p>\n

“The Rams are a little worried about the future at receiver right now,” Kimes said. “Regardless of what happens in-house [with Nacua], I think they should take a receiver, especially with Davante Adams turning 34.”<\/p>\n

Kimes projected the Rams to draft former Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Following the Rams’ Week 14 win over Arizona, Nacua rubbed some Rams the wrong way by live-streaming in the locker room<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Two weeks later, Nacua invited streamers Adin Ross and N3on to the Rams facility, where they were turned away. Nacua later said head coach Sean McVay “didn’t [expletive] with that<\/a>” when he found out.<\/p>\n

Nacua appeared on Ross’ stream ahead of the Rams’ game against Seattle on Thursday, Dec. 18, and he came under fire for performing an antisemitic gesture<\/a>. He issued a formal apology<\/a> stating that he had “no idea” that the gesture perpetuated harmful stereotypes at the time. The NFL and the Rams also issued statements.<\/p>\n

After the Rams lost in overtime to Seattle, Nacua immediately blamed the referees<\/a> on X (formerly Twitter).<\/p>\n

The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue<\/a> cited a Rams team source in confirming that Nacua “checked himself into a private care facility,” where he has been since March.<\/p>\n

“Perhaps taking cues from McVay, the Rams did not seem to have many long-term concerns about Nacua\u2019s behavior immediately after the in-season incidents,” Rodrigue reported. “(Nacua was neither suspended nor punished by the team, and McVay, in fact, praised his on-field production in the first game after the livestream, although he added he hoped Nacua would\u00a0learn from his mistakes).”<\/p>\n

But Rodrigue added that the Rams’ concerns “significantly increased” this offseason: “The 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.”<\/p>\n

Nacua is extension eligible this offseason. Seattle Seahawks star and NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba just reset<\/a> the wide receiver market by signing a four-year, $168.6 million extension two weeks ago (via ESPN<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Rams’ only first-round pick in this year’s draft is No. 13 overall after trading No. 29 overall<\/a> to the Kansas City Chiefs as part of the blockbuster package to land All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.<\/p>\n

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh from April 23 to April 25.<\/p>\n