Puka Nacua #17 of the Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is ready to come out even stronger entering the 2025 season.
The 23-year-old has already established himself as one of the NFL’s top wide receivers through his first two seasons, shattering records during his rookie campaign. Despite being just a fifth-round draft pick, Nacua quickly emerged as the Rams’ No. 1 receiver during the 2023 season, totaling 105 receptions for 1,486 receiving yards—breaking rookie single-season records in both categories.
Those robust numbers led to a Pro Bowl berth and an All-Pro selection during his rookie season. However, Nacua’s numbers dipped in his second season due to injuries, suffering a PCL sprain and missing five games as a result.
“I think it’s just being consistent,” says Nacua in a one-on-one interview with RG on behalf of his partnership with Sleep Number. “I know there’s some injury bugs that I had to go through this past year, but just being able to be out there every play—that’s something I want to be able to pride myself in and be able to impact the game on every play.
“Part of that is being out there every play and mixing that in with just being out there with Davante (Adams), having Matthew (Stafford) come back, and we got a great squad over here,” Nacua continues. “We have Kyren (Williams), and I think it’ll be really exciting for everybody to see the Rams’ offense this year.”
A New Era with Adams Begins
Following longtime receiver Cooper Kupp’s departure, the Rams reloaded with the addition of Adams, a six-time Pro Bowler who is considered one of the best receivers of this generation. Despite being 32 years old and on the downside of his career, Adams still had a good season, posting 85 receptions for 1,063 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
That was despite the fact that Adams played for a New York Jets offensive unit that ranked 24th in the NFL in scoring.
Considering Adams will be joining a stacked offensive unit that ranked 10th in passing yards last season and features the likes of Nacua and quarterback Matthew Stafford, Adams should be the perfect complement to Nacua heading into 2025.
“He’s been super great since the day he walked in the facility, and we met when he signed out here. His energy has been very positive,” says Nacua of Adams.
“We’ve been out here in the first couple of days of OTAs to learn how to communicate with him and trying to get on the same language. Speaking in that Coach McVay offense has been fun, and he’s a great football player. He’s super smart as well.”
Old Friends, New Rivals
The loss of Kupp is a big deal, considering he was one of the driving forces behind the Rams’ Super Bowl during the 2021 season. The former NFL Offensive Player of the Year won Super Bowl LVI MVP honors after leading the NFL in all three major receiving categories during the 2021 season.
However, Kupp will be 32 years old this year, has dealt with constant injuries since that season—he hasn’t appeared in more than 12 games in a single season since—and his production has been on a slow decline.
While Kupp won’t be teammates with Nacua this season, he will face him twice this year as a member of the Rams’ division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks.
“We spent most of the offseason together training pretty much all the way to when he left out there to Seattle, and we’ve sent a couple messages here and there,” says Nacua of Kupp. “He talked to my college quarterback that’s with the Seahawks right now, Jaren Hall, so I told him to go say some hellos for me to some people I know over there. I know Seattle’s lucky to have him. He’s a great human being and a great football player as well, and it’ll be exciting to see him two times a year now.”
Nacua knows how motivated Kupp will be to beat the Rams when they match up next season. Kupp had spent his entire eight-year career with the Rams after entering the league as a third-round draft pick out of FCS school Eastern Washington.
“I think so, 100%. I know he’s going to go out there and he’s going to play,” says Nacua of Kupp.
“He’s going to be ready to go anytime he steps on the football field, as he always is. I know when we play each other, whether it’s at home or when it’s over there, he’s going to be ready for that one for sure.”
Nacua and Kupp are good friends, and the young receiver makes it clear how instrumental the latter has been in his development as a receiver. However, Nacua also makes it clear that he wants to beat Kupp’s Seahawks and get the better end of his former teammate when they match up.
“There’s no doubt about it,” says Nacua of wanting to beat Kupp. “I told him I was like, after we beat you, don’t hate me. But I’m going to need that No. 10 jersey, even though I haven’t got one from the Rams jersey, but I’m definitely going to need one of his in Seattle, for sure.”
A Potential Reunion with Ramsey
While the Rams are one of the better teams in the NFC—they came within a possession of defeating the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles—they may not be done reloading. There’s been talk of Los Angeles bringing back another key piece from that Super Bowl LVI team, cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Ramsey is a seven-time Pro Bowler who previously spent four seasons with the Rams. However, the 30-year-old is being shopped in the trade market after spending the past two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
General manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay have recently discussed the possibility of bringing Ramsey back to Los Angeles.
Nacua says it would be a “great addition” for the team if the Rams are able to pull off a deal for Ramsey.
“I think somebody coming back home to Los Angeles who’s won a Super Bowl would be a great addition for the Rams,” says Nacua of the Rams possibly bringing back Ramsey.
The young receiver matched up against Ramsey and the Dolphins last season and brings up what makes him stand out as a cornerback.
“His physical stature,” says the 6-foot-2 Nacua of the 6-foot-1 Ramsey. “There’s a mindset that he plays with, he has swagger, his confidence when he walks out there on the football field, knowing what he’s capable of definitely gives him an edge. It would be really fun to work our skills against each other if he were to come over here, but whether we see him in a Rams uniform or out there, I know we’ll be getting good work.”
DJ Siddiqi is a sports reporter who focuses on football, basketball and pro wrestling. He has covered some of the biggest sporting events, including the NBA Finals and Wrestlemania and often interviews high-profile athletes on a weekly basis. Siddiqi has interviewed the likes of Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, Tony Hawk and Giannis Antetokounmpo. His previous experience includes working as a lead NBA writer at CBS Sports and 247 Sports in addition to working as a beat reporter covering the NFL and the Denver Broncos at Bleacher Report. Follow Siddiqi for exclusive one-on-one interviews and analysis on key topics in sports
