Puka Nacua has 42 million reasons to smile after recent NFL news

It has already been a great offseason for Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua, and on Monday, it got even better. Fresh off a season where he established himself as arguably a top-two receiver in the league, Nacua has been everywhere flashing his smile. His smile likely just got bigger after the news that the Seattle Seahawks extended receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a four-year deal worth $168.6 million.

That contract, which averages $42.15 million a year and has over $120 million guaranteed, makes Smith-Njigba the highest-paid receiver in NFL history. While that money won’t be going into Nacua’s pockets, it does affect his inevitable extension. The Rams wideout has one year left on his deal, and with Smith-Njigba resetting the market, Nacua is expected to cash in on an even bigger deal.

All eyes turn to Rams’ Puka Nacua after Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s extension with Seahawks

Nacua and Smith-Njigba were the two most productive receivers in 2025, by far. Smith-Njigba led the league with 1,793 yards in 17 games, and Nacua was right behind him with 1,715 yards, in one less game. Smith-Njigba‘s Seahawks defeated the Rams in the NFC Championship, and went on to win the Super Bowl, and the wideout also won Offensive Player of the Year.

While Nacua certainly would love to have the championship ring, he will finally be able to one-up Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Elite players make sure to keep pushing the market forward with their new contracts, and since Smith-Njigba got his deal done first, it’s now Nacua’s turn to come in and be the highest-paid receiver in NFL history.

Smith-Njigba moved the wide receiver market from $40.25 million a year (Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals) to $42.15 million a year. Now, Nacua can quickly get that number up to 43 or 44 million annually, all depending on how high Los Angeles wants to go.

In just three years, Nacua is already a two-time Pro Bowler, and one of the most dominant receivers in the league. Selected in the fifth round of the 2023 Draft, the receiver broke out immediately with 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. In 2024, he was limited to just 11 games, but still posted 990 yards. He bounced back with the 1,715 yards in 2025, and now he’s set up to be the highest-paid receiver in NFL history.