Puka Nacua is one of best wide receivers in football and key to the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl hopes, but lately has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Nacua’s off-field trouble began late last season, when he made an antisemitic gesture and criticized NFL officials during a livestream. He is now being sued after allegedly biting a woman and making an antisemitic comment while out on New Year’s Eve, although his representatives have denied some of the claims.
During an appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” Rams head coach Sean McVay commented on Nacua’s issues and said the team is committed to helping him continue to grow as a person:
“It’s really just what you said. Here’s the thing that you do know: Being around him for three years, love this guy’s heart. He’s got this authentic zest for life. He’s got just this vibe about him that you can’t help but love. And he’s continuing to mature. And as you’re becoming this amazing player, that comes with responsibilities. But we love him. He’s one of us. You want to continue to put your arm around him and help him continue to grow in all areas of his life. I think we want to invest in the whole person.”
McVay later indicated to reporters that the team wants to see Nacua make better decisions off the field before signing him to a long-term contract extension, via Gary Klein of the L.A. Times:
Do incidents involving Puka Nacua make Rams hesitant to break bank on star receiver?
McVay: “The play on the field is amazing and then with what the play has dictated and determined there is a responsibility in terms of representing all things not exclusive to just that.”— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) March 30, 2026
More McVay on Nacua: “We are hopeful that…this will be an opportunity for him to learn and grow, and we are hopeful that he’s a Ram for a really long time. But he understands what the responsibility is not exclusive to just the production on the field.”
— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) March 30, 2026
There’s no doubt that Nacua has all the tools to be a Hall of Famer someday, but the 24-year-old needs to handle himself better off the field if he wants to have a long, successful career.
To Nacua’s credit, he expressed remorse for the unfortunate incident last season and said he wants to be more of a leader around his Rams teammates. Now it’s up to him to put those words into action.
When will Rams sign Puka Nacua to contract extension?
The Seattle Seahawks recently signed Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history with an average salary of $42.15 million per season.
That is notable for Nacua, who is also in line to sign a lucrative contract extension this offseason. While one should eventually come to fruition — even with his recent off-field trouble — L.A. is not expected to get a deal done with the star wide receiver until later this summer.
Rams general manager Les Snead previously indicated that the Rams would focus on free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft before turning their focus to contract extensions for eligible players.
When the dust settles after that, the Rams will likely make Nacua the new highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history as he has statistically outperformed Smith-Njigba in several categories since entering the league in 2023.