Puka Nacua is set to be the final domino to fall when it comes to the NFL’s top receivers agreeing to megadeals over the past two years.
While Nacua didn’t become the first receiver to break the $40 million per year barrier—that honor belongs to Jamar Chase after he signed a four-year, $161 million deal last March—nor did he become the first receiver to secure a blockbuster contract this offseason after Jaxson Smith-Njigba was rewarded with a four-year, $168.6 million deal, the Los Angeles Rams star is a strong bet to eclipse his peers financially when the ink has dried.
The Rams can’t afford to wait much longer to get an agreement with their top wideout in place. While Nacua comes from the same draft class as JSN, he’s entering the final season of his rookie contract—one that doesn’t have a fifth-year option attached to it due to Nacua’s status as a Day 3 pick.
The Rams could opt to franchise tag Nacua—which would cost approximately $31.6 million for the 2027 season—but the team would be wise to lock up one of the league’s brightest young stars for the long haul before contracts inflate even further in the coming years. The team hasn’t shied away from paying its key contributors either, something Nacua clearly is after racking up 4,191 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns on 313 catches over his first three seasons.
Although Nacua’s off-field concerns and minor injury woes may have given L.A.’s brass some pause, the Rams have continued to support him through his rehab stint and still view him as a key part of their future, even if any extension discussions may hinge on how he moves forward off the field.
All signs point to Nacua entering the 2026 season on a new extension, one that is likely to pay $170 million or more over a four-year period.
Contract Prediction: Four years, $172 million