Rams have more than enough time to resolve Puka Nacua dilemma properly

The subject of Puka Nacua's contract extension went from an imminent given to a murky uncertainty during a few short months this offseason. Retaining the star receiver would certainly seem to be high on the Los Angeles Rams' to-do list ahead of his rookie deal's expiration after the 2026 campaign. But it no longer appears likely that an extension will happen before the season, though that remains possible with eight weeks still to go.

Former NFL agent Joel Corry, now of CBS Sports, suggested that the Rams could franchise-tag Nacua rather than commit to an extension. While that is entirely valid speculation, doing so would be a grave mistake assuming that the team plans to keep Nacua around for the long haul. 

The good news is that the two sides have plenty of time to agree on contract terms, all the way through to the start of next offseason. Fretting over the sour implications of a franchise-tag scenario isn't worth the emotional expenditure.

Rams have more than enough time to extend Nacua 

Any financial gain the Rams would make from tagging Nacua next season is relatively negligible from a big-picture view. Nacua would make $31 million on a franchise tag next season, whereas an extension would likely pay him in the range of $40 to $45 million per year. The gap isn't nothing, but it's not a needle-moving increase in cap space.

Tagging players often sows friction, which is why general manager Les Snead avoids it like the plague (the Rams haven't tagged a player since safety LaMarcus Joyner in 2018). Saving $9-14 million next year isn't worth ruffling feathers in Nacua's camp. 

Yes, Nacua's own off-field issues are directly responsible for delaying extension talks, but as long as he stays out of trouble over the next year, that won't do much, if anything for the Rams. Nacua will rightfully feel entitled to a lucrative payday if he makes it through another superstar season without issue. 

It would be hard to blame Nacua and his agent for taking a franchise tag as an insult, and it could jeopardize his long-term willingness to remain in Los Angeles.

Fortunately, even as the likelihood of a pre-season extension dwindles, the Rams will have all of this season and at least a month afterward to put pen to paper. While negotiations may be slowed or postponed as the team concentrates on winning each week and pursuing a Super Bowl, there could still be room to lay out the groundwork for Nacua's next contract.

Talks could then accelerate during the monthlong layoff between the Big Game and free agency. 

Because no extension has yet been signed, it's difficult to fault anyone for bringing up the franchise tag. It's only natural. At least for now, though, it's not something Rams fans should worry about with nearly eight months to ink signatures before Nacua hits free agency.

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