Latest news with #Nacua
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
A $100-million payday? Puka Nacua knows a strong 2025 could reap big rewards
Puka Nacua saw the numbers. So, no doubt, did Rams general manager Les Snead, and vice president Tony Pastoors, the team's senior executive in charge of negotiating contracts. When Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets this month signed a four-year extension that includes $90 million in guarantees, he became the latest young NFL receiver star to cash in before playing out his rookie contract. Nacua is in the third year of his rookie deal with the Rams. He will be eligible for an extension in the offseason. Read more: Rams open training camp: Analyzing their biggest concerns 'I try to do my best to stay completely present where my feet are,' Nacua said this week after the Rams' first practice, noting that he played in a high school All-Star game with Wilson. 'It's exciting to see guys, to push the envelope for the wide receiver game.' Nacua, a fifth-round draft pick in 2023, will earn just over $1 million this season, according to For the Rams, it ranks as one of the NFL's best bargains. Nacua, 24, became a breakout star in his first season, establishing several NFL rookie receiving records and making the Pro Bowl. Last season, despite sitting out five games because of a knee injury that he sustained during a preseason workout against the Chargers and then aggravated in the opener against the Detroit Lions, he caught 79 passes for 990 yards and three touchdowns. With Nacua ascending into the No. 1 receiver, the Rams moved on from veteran Cooper Kupp and signed three-time All-Pro Davante Adams. Quarterback Matthew Stafford will be sidelined through at least the first week of training camp because of back soreness. But on Wednesday, while working with veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo, Nacua and Adams showed flashes of the excitement they are expected to generate for a team that will be regarded as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. During their brief time as teammates, Nacua said he has learned about body control, elusiveness, on-field awareness and how to maximize route-running leverage from Adams. 'He explains it so well in the meeting room,' Nacua said, 'so it makes it fun to watch tape and to be like, 'OK, how can I add some of these things to my toolbox?'' Adams' 'illusion of speed and lateral quickness' stand out, Nacua said. 'I wouldn't say there's a lot of people that can replicate some of the things that he can do,' Nacua said, 'but trying to understand the movement so I can add it to my game.' Nacua and Adams are the stars of a Rams receiving corps that also includes speedy Tutu Atwell, who is playing on a one-year $10-million contract, and second-year pro Jordan Whittington. As Nacua navigates his third training camp, he said he would be focused on improving his 'pre-practice preparation' as the Rams get ready for their Sept. 7 opener against the Houston Texans. 'I feel like I could wake up out of bed and get ready to roll and have no warmups,' Nacua said of his first two camps. 'I maybe didn't run as fast as Tutu when I woke up out of bed, but I feel like I could get out and just be ready to go. So … pre-practice preparation, so when I hit down the field, I know I can start rolling as soon as we get out here.' The Rams are currently in negotiations with running back Kyren Williams about a possible extension. But that deal, if it gets done, will not compare with those looming in 2026 and beyond. Read more: Matthew Stafford dealing with back soreness, will be limited at start of Rams training camp If Nacua remains injury free and he maintains or increases his production, he could have a potential megadeal in hand before 2026 training camp. Defensive lineman Kobie Turner also will be eligible for an extension. Edge rusher Jared Verse is another young star on track for a potential massive payday after the 2026 season. Nacua is not looking too far ahead as he gets his mind and body ready for the upcoming season. 'This will probably be the best that I feel for the rest of the year,' he joked. 'I enjoy these moments because they won't last too long, but I feel fantastic right now. 'Ready to roll.' Etc. Stafford was not on the field Wednesday. The 16-year veteran was working with trainers in other areas, McVay said. Stafford is not expected to practice until next week. 'I think that's the best thing in terms of being able to strengthen, be as strong, sturdy and feel as good as he can go,' McVay said of Stafford working away from on-field activities, 'As good as he can be for the time that we get him back out here on Monday." ... Former Rams center Brian Allen is attending camp and helping with the offensive line. ... The Rams are scheduled to hold a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 5 in Oxnard. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
A $100-million payday? Puka Nacua knows a strong 2025 could reap big rewards
Puka Nacua saw the numbers. So, no doubt, did Rams general manager Les Snead, and vice president Tony Pastoors, the team's senior executive in charge of negotiating contracts. When Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets this month signed a four-year extension that includes $90 million in guarantees, he became the latest young NFL receiver star to cash in before playing out his rookie contract. Nacua is in the third year of his rookie deal with the Rams. He will be eligible for an extension in the offseason. 'I try to do my best to stay completely present where my feet are,' Nacua said this week after the Rams' first practice, noting that he played in a high school All-Star game with Wilson. 'It's exciting to see guys, to push the envelope for the wide receiver game.' Nacua, a fifth-round draft pick in 2023, will earn just over $1 million this season, according to For the Rams, it ranks as one of the NFL's best bargains. Nacua, 24, became a breakout star in his first season, establishing several NFL rookie receiving records and making the Pro Bowl. Last season, despite sitting out five games because of a knee injury that he sustained during a preseason workout against the Chargers and then aggravated in the opener against the Detroit Lions, he caught 79 passes for 990 yards and three touchdowns. With Nacua ascending into the No. 1 receiver, the Rams moved on from veteran Cooper Kupp and signed three-time All-Pro Davante Adams. Quarterback Matthew Stafford will be sidelined through at least the first week of training camp because of back soreness. But on Wednesday, while working with veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo, Nacua and Adams showed flashes of the excitement they are expected to generate for a team that will be regarded as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. During their brief time as teammates, Nacua said he has learned about body control, elusiveness, on-field awareness and how to maximize route-running leverage from Adams. 'He explains it so well in the meeting room,' Nacua said, 'so it makes it fun to watch tape and to be like, 'OK, how can I add some of these things to my toolbox?'' Adams' 'illusion of speed and lateral quickness' stand out, Nacua said. 'I wouldn't say there's a lot of people that can replicate some of the things that he can do,' Nacua said, 'but trying to understand the movement so I can add it to my game.' Nacua and Adams are the stars of a Rams receiving corps that also includes speedy Tutu Atwell, who is playing on a one-year $10-million contract, and second-year pro Jordan Whittington. As Nacua navigates his third training camp, he said he would be focused on improving his 'pre-practice preparation' as the Rams get ready for their Sept. 7 opener against the Houston Texans. 'I feel like I could wake up out of bed and get ready to roll and have no warmups,' Nacua said of his first two camps. 'I maybe didn't run as fast as Tutu when I woke up out of bed, but I feel like I could get out and just be ready to go. So … pre-practice preparation, so when I hit down the field, I know I can start rolling as soon as we get out here.' The Rams are currently in negotiations with running back Kyren Williams about a possible extension. But that deal, if it gets done, will not compare with those looming in 2026 and beyond. If Nacua remains injury free and he maintains or increases his production, he could have a potential megadeal in hand before 2026 training camp. Defensive lineman Kobie Turner also will be eligible for an extension. Edge rusher Jared Verse is another young star on track for a potential massive payday after the 2026 season. Nacua is not looking too far ahead as he gets his mind and body ready for the upcoming season. 'This will probably be the best that I feel for the rest of the year,' he joked. 'I enjoy these moments because they won't last too long, but I feel fantastic right now. 'Ready to roll.' Stafford was not on the field Wednesday. The 16-year veteran was working with trainers in other areas, McVay said. Stafford is not expected to practice until next week. 'I think that's the best thing in terms of being able to strengthen, be as strong, sturdy and feel as good as he can go,' McVay said of Stafford working away from on-field activities, 'As good as he can be for the time that we get him back out here on Monday.' ... Former Rams center Brian Allen is attending camp and helping with the offensive line. ... The Rams are scheduled to hold a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 5 in Oxnard.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Puka Nacua explains why he's deferred to Davante Adams as Rams' leader in WR drills
Nacua praised Adams' veteran presence and explained why he asked the All-Pro to take the lead during drills Just days into the start of Los Angeles Rams training camp, Puka Nacua is already embracing the presence and leadership of his All-Pro teammate Devante Adams. Right from the start, Adams isn't just participating; he's influencing everything that comes to mind, from drills to pacing to leadership, similar to the way Cooper Kupp did. While the Rams will look for their young star wideout to embrace more of a leadership role in Year 3 himself, Nacua didn't hesitate one bit when he asked Adams to take the lead in position drills, signaling the respect that the future Hall of Famer has earned over his 11-year career. 'I've asked Davante to lead our position group, to lead our position group drills,' Nacua said. 'There is a respect for him to come in saying, 'I don't want to push you out of the way or take your spot and be like, oh, I should be up there number one.' But it's something that I have a huge amount of respect for his game and I'm blessed to be around great people like Coop and Davante.' While in the presence of a route-running wizard, Nacua – who has also showcased himself as one of the league's best route runners over his first two seasons – has continued to play as a student of the game and watching Adams up close during live reps is having a great impact. "When I was in the front, I'm trying to sprint as fast as I can so I can turn around and watch him,' Nacua added. "So, I was like, 'Hey, I think it'll make my job a little bit easier if you just go first.' Today I was right there in the back and I'm just standing like this because I'm going to watch the tape again, but I'm like, there's nothing better than seeing him with my own two eyes." The Rams signed Adams in March to help fill the void left by Kupp, who joined the division-rival Seahawks and will face his former team twice this season. Adams' arrival not only adds a proven playmaker to the offense but also continues the mentorship pipeline for the rising star Nacua. His eagerness to learn and willingness to defer to the 32-year-old veteran speak volumes about the leadership presence Adams brings to the Rams' wide receiver room. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Seeking to learn, Puka Nacua asks Davante Adams to lead the LA Rams' receiving drills
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although Puka Nacua is one of the NFL's top receivers as he heads into his third season with the Los Angeles Rams, he thinks he still has plenty to learn from the new teammate wearing his old uniform number. Nacua was full of praise and admiration for Davante Adams after just one practice in training camp at Loyola Marymount University on Wednesday. Nacua is determined to soak up the techniques and teachings of the six-time Pro Bowl selection who joined the Rams as a replacement for Cooper Kupp in the spring. 'I've asked Davante to lead our position group drills,' Nacua said. 'There was respect from him coming in, saying, 'I don't want to push you out of the way, or to try to take your spot,' or that I should be up there No. 1, but it's something (where) I have a huge amount of respect for his game, and I'm blessed to be around people like Coop, and to have Davante come in.' There's also a practical reason for Nacua's invitation to Adams: 'When I was in the front, I'm trying to sprint as fast as I can so I can turn around and watch him. So I was like, 'Hey, I think it would make my job a little easier if you go first.'' Nacua's respect for Adams has been obvious from the day Adams signed. Nacua willingly ceded the No. 17 jersey he had worn for two seasons in Los Angeles, switching to the No. 12 he wore in college. Adams got the ball frequently during the Rams' opening workout, impressing the fans in the stands while catching passes from Jimmy Garoppolo. Matthew Stafford is starting training camp on the sidelines as he recovers from back soreness, leaving Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett in the pocket for the first week. Nacua was observing Adams with admiration, watching everything from his famous release skills at the line of scrimmage to his ball concentration in traffic. 'His illusion of speed and lateral quickness is something I'm trying to add to my game in the way that it fits my skill set,' Nacua said. 'I wouldn't say there's a lot of people that can replicate some of the things that he can do, but I try to understand the movement so I can add it to my game.' But Adams also recognizes the remarkable ascent of Nacua, the former fifth-round pick. Nacua's average of 88.4 yards receiving per game is the second-best in NFL history among non-scab players, trailing only Minnesota's Justin Jefferson (96.5). Nacua has 184 catches for 2,476 yards in just 28 regular-season games for the Rams, but he could be even more dangerous with Adams as his counterpart. Defenses will be unable to focus primarily on Nacua, as they did at times in his first two seasons when Kupp was injured or ineffective, likely allowing Nacua to get into more advantageous matchups for Stafford. The big picture looks good for Nacua, but he's also concentrating on learning the small details from Adams, whose skills he can list in encyclopedic detail. 'I'd say his body control, and obviously his elusiveness at the line of scrimmage,' Nacua said. 'But then his awareness, the rotation of defenders and how to attack leverage on anyone, everything down the field, and then to have the illusion of going the opposite direction of where you want to go. He does a great job, and he explains it so well in the meeting room, so it makes it fun to watch tape and to be like, 'OK, how can I add some of these things to my toolbox?'' Nacua is one year away from the chance to sign a contract extension, but he isn't thinking much about the massive looming payday if he produces another prolific season with Stafford and Adams. 'A little bit, but I try my best to stay completely present where my feet are,' Nacua said. 'It's exciting to see guys push the envelope for the wide receiver game.' ___ AP NFL:
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Seeking to learn, Puka Nacua asks Davante Adams to lead the LA Rams' receiving drills
Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although Puka Nacua is one of the NFL's top receivers as he heads into his third season with the Los Angeles Rams, he thinks he still has plenty to learn from the new teammate wearing his old uniform number. Nacua was full of praise and admiration for Davante Adams after just one practice in training camp at Loyola Marymount University on Wednesday. Nacua is determined to soak up the techniques and teachings of the six-time Pro Bowl selection who joined the Rams as a replacement for Cooper Kupp in the spring. 'I've asked Davante to lead our position group drills,' Nacua said. 'There was respect from him coming in, saying, 'I don't want to push you out of the way, or to try to take your spot,' or that I should be up there No. 1, but it's something (where) I have a huge amount of respect for his game, and I'm blessed to be around people like Coop, and to have Davante come in.' There's also a practical reason for Nacua's invitation to Adams: 'When I was in the front, I'm trying to sprint as fast as I can so I can turn around and watch him. So I was like, 'Hey, I think it would make my job a little easier if you go first.'' Nacua's respect for Adams has been obvious from the day Adams signed. Nacua willingly ceded the No. 17 jersey he had worn for two seasons in Los Angeles, switching to the No. 12 he wore in college. Adams got the ball frequently during the Rams' opening workout, impressing the fans in the stands while catching passes from Jimmy Garoppolo. Matthew Stafford is starting training camp on the sidelines as he recovers from back soreness, leaving Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett in the pocket for the first week. Nacua was observing Adams with admiration, watching everything from his famous release skills at the line of scrimmage to his ball concentration in traffic. 'His illusion of speed and lateral quickness is something I'm trying to add to my game in the way that it fits my skill set,' Nacua said. 'I wouldn't say there's a lot of people that can replicate some of the things that he can do, but I try to understand the movement so I can add it to my game.' But Adams also recognizes the remarkable ascent of Nacua, the former fifth-round pick. Nacua's average of 88.4 yards receiving per game is the second-best in NFL history among non-scab players, trailing only Minnesota's Justin Jefferson (96.5). Nacua has 184 catches for 2,476 yards in just 28 regular-season games for the Rams, but he could be even more dangerous with Adams as his counterpart. Defenses will be unable to focus primarily on Nacua, as they did at times in his first two seasons when Kupp was injured or ineffective, likely allowing Nacua to get into more advantageous matchups for Stafford. The big picture looks good for Nacua, but he's also concentrating on learning the small details from Adams, whose skills he can list in encyclopedic detail. 'I'd say his body control, and obviously his elusiveness at the line of scrimmage,' Nacua said. 'But then his awareness, the rotation of defenders and how to attack leverage on anyone, everything down the field, and then to have the illusion of going the opposite direction of where you want to go. He does a great job, and he explains it so well in the meeting room, so it makes it fun to watch tape and to be like, 'OK, how can I add some of these things to my toolbox?'' Nacua is one year away from the chance to sign a contract extension, but he isn't thinking much about the massive looming payday if he produces another prolific season with Stafford and Adams. 'A little bit, but I try my best to stay completely present where my feet are,' Nacua said. 'It's exciting to see guys push the envelope for the wide receiver game.' ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3
