{"id":620321,"date":"2026-04-22T04:33:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T04:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/620321\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T04:33:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T04:33:08","slug":"sean-mcvay-talks-puka-nacua-rams-2026-nfl-draft-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/620321\/","title":{"rendered":"Sean McVay talks Puka Nacua, Rams 2026 NFL draft plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

PITTSBURGH \u2014 A familiar face was on hand when the Rams opened the on-field phase of their offseason program on Monday. Puka Nacua, their star wide receiver, is taking part in the program after entering a rehabilitation facility<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n

Rams coach Sean McVay said Nacua will be a full participant in the program<\/a> and that it was \u201cGreat to be able to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n

McVay did not delve much into Nacua\u2019s situation or any conversations he and his wide receiver have had, but did say that he and Nacua \u201chave a great relationship\u201d and that he feels \u201creally good about kind of the direction that we\u2019re going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rams coach Sean McVay said Nacua will be a full participant in the program and that it was \u201cGreat to be able to see him.\u201d Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Puka Nacua, their star wide receiver, is taking part in the program after entering a rehabilitation facility last month. Getty Images<\/p>\n

In many ways, though, Nacua\u2019s presence at the club\u2019s Woodland Hills practice facility is also a reminder of the long-term future of their wide receiver room. And how their first round pick in Thursday\u2019s NFL draft<\/a>, which lands at No. 13 thanks to a shrewd 2024 draft-day trade they made with the Falcons, can help enhance that position.<\/p>\n

Assuming everything checks out with Nacua, who checked himself into rehab after a series of off-field incidents, he and the Rams are likely to extend their relationship on a long-term contract extension. Based on his on-field production, including the league-leading 129 catches he posted last year for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, he is on target to sign the richest wide receiver contract in NFL history.<\/p>\n

Beyond Nacua, though, there is short-term and long-range uncertainty.<\/p>\n

Davante Adams will turn 34-years old in December and is entering the last year of his contract. Finding a replacement for him is high on the Rams\u2019 list of priorities.<\/p>\n

But so too is adding someone who can slide in alongside Nacua and Adams and contribute as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n

California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n

In present form, the Rams have a top-three NFL roster and legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. But they\u2019d be even more formidable if McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford had yet another explosive playmaker to tap into.<\/p>\n

But they\u2019d be even more formidable if McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford had yet another explosive playmaker to tap into. Getty Images<\/p>\n

That brings us to Thursday\u2019s first round, and the very real opportunity the Rams have to add a player who fits that bill perfectly.<\/p>\n

That is, provided things break right for them over the first 12 picks of the draft. If so, the Rams could be choosing among two potential day-one starting wide receivers and possibly three.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

As McVay pointed out, the Rams \u201cdon\u2019t control what happens in those 12 picks before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the way the draft board is shaping up, the club could be deciding between Arizona State\u2019s Jordyn Tyson and USC\u2019s Makai Lemon, and at the very least, be in a position to draft one of them.<\/p>\n

For different reasons, both would fit well in the Rams\u2019 offense.<\/p>\n

As McVay pointed out, the Rams \u201cdon\u2019t control what happens in those 12 picks before.\u201d IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Tyson as a big, physical vertical threat, and Lemon as a stout, do-it-all weapon like Golden Tate or Amon-Ra St. Brown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re eager to add a really good player at 13,\u201d said McVay. \u201cWhether that\u2019s offensive skill, whether that\u2019s defensive guys. I think there are a lot of players that you look at that you feel really good about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rams general manager Les Snead mentioned wide receiver as a possibility at No. 13, although he did say other positions would be in play as well.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the way the draft board is shaping up, the club could be deciding between Arizona State\u2019s Jordyn Tyson and USC\u2019s Makai Lemon (above), and at the very least, be in a position to draft one of them. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sea shapes the ship,\u201d is how Snead put it.<\/p>\n

As it relates to wide receiver, though, the Rams have clearly done their homework.<\/p>\n

Lemon, in particular, has been a person of interest for some time, given the proximity between USC and the Rams. In fact, Snead\u2019s son and daughter are both students at USC, so he caught a bunch of Trojans games simply by being a dad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve lived and died in Trojan football, so I can say this, as a fan, as a father with two kids there, it was fun when you saw the ball go up and it was heading toward Lemon\u2019s hands,\u201d Snead said. \u201cYou always felt like he\u2019d bring it down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Playing alongside Nacua and Adams, Lemon would likely get a bunch of chances to do the same thing for the Rams.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t