{"id":374271,"date":"2026-07-30T17:04:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=374271"},"modified":"2026-07-30T17:04:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:34:44","slug":"off-field-issues-delaying-puka-nacua-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/30\/off-field-issues-delaying-puka-nacua-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"Off-Field Issues Delaying Puka Nacua Extension"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rams wide receiver Puka<\/strong> Nacua<\/strong> has been within the headlines throughout the 2026 offseason \u2013 mostly for the unsuitable reasons.<\/p>\n

<\/a>The 25-year-old was accused in March of creating antisemitic statements to a lady before biting her on the shoulder. Also that month, he checked right into a luxury rehab center to concentrate on \u201cpersonal growth.\u201d Those issues put contract talks \u2013 a priority for Los Angeles entering the offseason \u2013 on the back burner, even after Jaxon Smith-Njigba<\/strong>\u2018s take care of the Seahawks reset the market and effectively set Nacua\u2019s asking price. Now, it appears he can have to attend until next offseason.<\/p>\n

The Rams have had internal discussions about extensions for quite a lot of their 2023 draftees, including Nacua, but he is just not expected to receive a brand new deal before the 2026 season begins, in line with NFL Network\u2019s Ian Rapoport<\/a>.\u00a0As a substitute, the previous fifth-round pick is poised to play out the ultimate yr of his rookie contract and begin negotiations with the team before he becomes a free agent in 2027.<\/p>\n

Nacua addressed his off-field issues at training camp on Wednesday, explaining his commitment to therapy and making changes in his personal life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been some things that obviously happened this offseason that haven\u2019t been the truest reflection of who I imagine I’m or how my mother raised me,\u201d<\/em> Nacua said (via Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post<\/a>). \u201cI\u2019m attempting to take accountability for the things I do know I can change and proceed to grow from. I need to turn into one of the best version of myself on and off the football field.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Nacua is already starting to point out a few of the growth the Rams are on the lookout for. Head coach Sean<\/strong> McVay<\/strong> praised his young wideout\u2019s accountability and desire to learn from his actions.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cHe\u2019s motivated because his heart is in the precise place,\u201d<\/em> McVay said. \u201cThe contract side of things will maintain itself because he\u2019s an incredible player.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It stays possible that Nacua demonstrates enough personal growth in the course of the season for the Rams to restart negotiations sooner slightly than later. In any case, initial concerns popped up in December, when he live-streamed within the locker room following a game. He was later fined $25K for criticizing officials on one other livestream, which also featured what gave the impression to be an antisemitic gesture, though Nacua claimed ignorance of the gesture\u2019s meaning.<\/p>\n

Keeping his head down and his nose clean over the following few months could bring Los Angeles to the negotiating table, especially if a hot begin to the season is poised to boost his price tag even further. Nacua, who trails only Ja\u2019Marr Chase<\/strong> in receiving yards during the last three years, should eclipse Smith-Njigba\u2019s $42.15MM AAV on his extension. Waiting until next offseason \u2013 when one other salary cap increase will kick in \u2013 could give him a likelihood to go even higher.<\/p>\n

Chase received $40.25MM per yr in 2025. Smith-Njigba beat that by $1.9MM this yr; a commensurate increase in 2027 would are available around $44MM. That’s before considering the potential for brand spanking new deals for Justin<\/strong> Jefferson<\/strong> and CeeDee<\/strong> Lamb<\/strong>, who could seek raises next offseason after seeing a minimum of three receivers pass them since signing. (That number could even grow to 5 if Zay<\/strong> Flowers<\/strong>, George<\/strong> Pickens<\/strong>, and\/or one other receiver sign top-of-the-market deals within the interim.)<\/p>\n

So while Nacua lost out on a large payday this offseason, he should still be in line for record-breaking money inside the following yr \u2013 provided he can stay out of trouble.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has been within the headlines throughout the 2026 offseason \u2013 mostly for the unsuitable reasons. The 25-year-old was accused in March of creating antisemitic statements to a lady before biting her on the shoulder. Also that month, he checked right into a luxury rehab center to concentrate on \u201cpersonal growth.\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":374272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[3786,2903,3457,49332,47335,49331],"class_list":["post-374271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-delaying","tag-extension","tag-issues","tag-nacua","tag-offfield","tag-puka"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t