Rams' Puka Nacua gets $43 million per year contract update from ESPN

The Los Angeles Rams made a massive few moves this offseason, adding Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett in huge trades, and also giving them new contracts worth over $300 million combined.

It's a lot of money being invested in one offseason, especially when adding the draft picks, Jaylen Watson, and the Matthew Stafford extension. But, they now have to work out a deal with Puka Nacua, as he's not likely to play in 2026 without an extension.

ESPN's Bill Barnwell shared a contract update for Nacua after three very productive seasons on his four-year rookie deal. This $43 million per-year update might be a problem for the Rams.

Rams get $43M APY Puka Nacua contract update

"Nacua would be in position to earn $31.6 million in 2027 and $38 million in 2028 on a second tag before potentially hitting free agency in advance of an unprecedented third tag in 2029," Barnwell writes. "While that would be a small discount given that Nacua would earn more than $43 million on a new contract..."

This contract situation is an interesting one, as the Rams might be a little apprehensive about signing Nacua to such a massive contract this offseason, considering the off-field drama and the injury issues at times.

But, if the Rams believe Nacua is as good as his statistics imply, there should be no qualms over spending $43 million per-year on such a standout WR.

With Davante Adams hitting free agency after 2026, it would also leave the team with a massive hole at WR if both Adams and Nacua left in one offseason.

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Barnwell notes the Rams could use the franchise tag, but it would create a rift between the player and the team, which could make a long-term deal trickier to work out.

Nacua, if he signs an extension this offseason, will become the richest WR in the NFL. He is surely going to beat Jaxon Smith-Njigba's $168.6 million, four-year extension.

He averages 95.3 yards per game, which is the most in NFL history. Nacua is an All-Pro WR who has 4,191 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career on 313 receptions.

There's no denying he's one of, if not the best, WRs in the league right now. Nacua will be the highest-paid WR on a new deal, and that means a $43 million per-year deal is likely the floor for what he could earn on a new deal.

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