WR Puka Nacua is a natural successor to Cooper Kupp in Rams offense

Nacua's 2nd verse, same as the 1st

In many ways, the greater test for a rather successful rookie who makes a name for himself on offense is his second season. Houston Texans star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud regressed in 2024. He fell from 4,108 yards, 23 TDs, and just five interceptions in 15 games in 2023 to 3,727 yards, 20 TDs, and 12 interceptions in 17 games in 2024. No, I'm not suggesting that Stroud is a bust. It's simply the fact that NFL defensive coordinators are more effective at stopping effective offensive weapons after seeing him.

While Puka Nacua was limited to just 11 games in 2024, he did not suffer a similar setback. His catch rate skyrocketed from 65.6 percent in 2023 to 74.5 percent in 2024. His yards per target remained steady at 9.3 yards. His yards per game rose from 87.4 YPG in 2023 to 90.0 YPG in 2024. And his receptions per game rose from 6.2 catches to 7.2 catches.

His 2024 performance was only limited due to the fact that he suited up for 11 games, rather than 17 games in 2023. He still managed to put up 79 catches out of 106 targets for 990 yards and three touchdowns. His star continues to rise:

The Rams' offense tends to fixate on one receiver. The thing is, fans were able to see the team transition from targeting Cooper Kupp to Puka Nacua in 2024. In the final eight games that Nacua played, he averaged more than 11 targets per game and more than eight receptions per game. Conversely, over that same span of games, Cooper Kupp averaged just 6.4 targets per game and just over four receptions per game.

It's no small feat to be a young offensive star on the Rams roster. But that is exactly the track that Nacua was navigating. And after breaking the rookie barrier to find himself earning a full workload in the Rams offense, Nacua's offensive prowess continued to mandate that the team keep feeding him the football. Unfortunately, that elevated role in the offense had to come from somewhere, and it came at Cooper Kupp's expense.

The student had surpassed the teacher. From that point in time, the wheels were set in motion for the team to make a touch but necessary decision. The Rams would run with Puka Nacua in 2025.