Puka Nacua in line for major accolades after latest ESPN praise

The Los Angeles Rams have long been a haven for elite wide receiver play, as evidenced by Cooper Kupp's record-breaking season, during the Sean McVay era, but Puka Nacua might be in the middle of a year that could top all the rest by the end of the campaign.

Nacua caught eight passes for 91 yards in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, and that was by far the worst game he has had this year. If he keeps this pace, it is not unreasonable to expect that he could challenge for close to 2,000 yards on the 2025 season.

The Offensive Player of the Year Award is firmly within Nacua's grasp, and one prominent analyst believes that it is his award to lose if he keeps up the sterling production he has had in the first four games of the 2025 season.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN named Nacua as the Offensive Player of the Year favorite ahead of Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor. Nacua is not only the favorite, but he may end up running away with it.

ESPN believes Rams WR Puka Nacua will win Offensive Player of the Year

Nacua has had some solid pass-catchers alongside him throughout his Rams tenure, but non of them can hold a candle to the elite talent of future Hall of Famer Davante Adams. With thise two on the field at the same time, Nacua has proven to be almost unstoppable without the defense's attention focused in on him.

Nacua could be in line for a contract that either ties Ja'Marr Chase in terms of AAV or completely resets the market. With such a young defense and running back Kyren Williams haven taken a serious discount, the Rams have the financial freedom they need to give Nacua the contract he has earned.

For the rest of this season, there's a very strong that Nacua follows in Cooper Kupp's footsteps and becomes the second receiver under McVay's watch to bring home an OPOY award. As for breaking Kupp's records, more information is needed before declaring if this is within reach.

Nacua has been an elite player ever since the Rams selected him, and he is finally starting to hit his prime as an athlete this season. Even with some major questions on this Rams roster, Los Angeles is a viable Super Bowl contender because of the connection between Stafford and Nacua this season.