It was a complicated offseason for the Los Angeles Rams. After doubts about Matthew Stafford remaining on the roster, his return immediately led to the team parting ways with superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp and replacing him with another proven veteran in Davante Adams. However, their primary focus was likely going to be on Puka Nacua turning into the superstar many believed he would be after a phenomenal rookie season.
Through the first five weeks of the year, that plan has come to fruition in glorious fashion. Leading the league in receptions and yards, he has logged an exceptional campaign so far. In turn, the Rams have had one of the most explosive offenses in the entire league, with Stafford playing some of the best football of his career.
Now, Nacua has laid down the reason for his unparalleled success in the 2025 season.
The Puka Nacua Secret to Success
A fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, no one could have predicted the instant success Nacua would find in the league. Making the Pro Bowl and being selected to the All-Pro in his rookie season, he set the rookie record for receptions in a game (15), as well as receiving yards in a year (1,486).
His sophomore year, though, saw a major slump from the talented wide receiver, as he suited up in just 11 games, tallying 990 yards in the process. Both years, he was the clear number two behind Kupp.
That has come to a change this year, with Nacua assuming the WR1 role. His production has immediately taken on a historic rate, as he leads all wide receivers in receptions (52) and receiving yards (588).
Ranking as the best wide receiver on PFSN’s Wide Receiver Impact metric as well, his production has been a key component to the Rams having a top 10 offense on the corresponding Offense Impact.
But, Nacua doesn’t believe it is just a coincidence of his elevation on the depth cart to the increased production. Instead, he believes it is part of a maturation process for himself, along with the increased experience that is allowing him to thrive.
Speaking to DJ Sidiqqi of RG, he explained, “I feel like the movement on the field has slowed down for me. I’m seeing the defense, and then also just to understand them.” Additionally, he attributed quite a bit of his success to the addition of Adams.
“When you leave the huddle, you have a player like Davante (Adams). (He) garners so much respect from teams in the NFL when you line up, we’re breaking the huddle, and you’re seeing guys who are like, ‘Alright, No. 17 (Adams) is going this way, or No. 12 (Nacua) is going this way.’”
Ultimately, he alluded to better understanding on his part as the ultimate key to success. “The understanding of the defenses and how our offense is operating has been so fun, because it definitely has slowed down and allowed for success on the field.”
The success Nacua has had has been virtually unparalleled. He currently is on pace to break the all-time single-season receiving yards record set by Calvin Johnson (1,964) in 2012 as a member of the Detroit Lions.
Coincidentally, both receivers had the same man under center. But, for the Rams, an even more important caveat has to be the team success that Nacua’s production has directly led to.
For a team trying to find its path back to the Super Bowl, their current recipe could be the ideal game plan to making that a reality.