New angle of jaw-dropping Puka Nacua catch will haunt the NFC West

When the Los Angeles Rams front office decided to part ways with veteran wide receivers Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson, and Tyler Johnson, the mantle of leading the wide receiver room fell to third-year wide receiver Puka Nacua. Nacua is the obvious choice. Even as he pays his respects to veteran wide receiver Davante Adams, Nacua remains the go-to guy.

Related: How WR Davante Adams and Puka Nacua can flourish in the same offense

Some NFL analysts have tried to make Nacua's deferral to Adams to lead the wide receivers in drills as some form of weakness. In their opinion, if he were truly a leader, he would demand to lead the unit in drills. But there are weak leaders, and then there are strong leaders.

Strong leaders show by example. They step onto a football field and do not need to say what they are going to do. They show you that human limits can be pushed further than anyone thought possible. Nacua is a leader.

Puka Nacua continues to wow fans, teammates, and coaches

So, how can fans tell the difference? Weak leaders lead with their words. They try to bully or compel followers to toe the line from the 'Do what I say, not what I do,' style of leadership. While that can work for a time, it tends to unravel when adversity arrives. Ultimately, when the team needs a player to turn the momentum of a game in the Rams' favor, stars step up.

Did you catch the circus catch from veteran Puka Nacua yet? Well, if you haven't, you are in for a treat. Just check out this catch made while he was lying flat out on his back. This one is worthy of the 2025 NFL highlights:

If you follow the catch in slow motion, he reaches back with his right hand to alter the course of the football. As he falls, he never stops tracking the football. Once he lands on the ground, he cradles the football in his lap and one hand, eventually securing it with the other hand as well.

Does it truly matter who leads the players in drills when Nacua is making circus catches on the football field that wows everyone, even HC Sean McVay? No. The Rams do not need to bicker over who is leading the wide receivers. The leader will show up when the offense needs a playmaker.

This new angle of the jaw-dropping Puka Nacua catch will haunt the NFC West. And it makes the case for who will lead the wide receivers this season. Veteran wide receiver Davante Adams has accomplished a great deal in his NFL career across many offenses. But until he achieves that same elite level of play in the Rams offense, turn your eyes to Nacua. He has many more circus catches in him this season.

As always, thanks for reading.

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