Puka Nacua Finishes Season As Highest-Graded Receiver In NFL
Jan 21, 2025, 9:55 PM | Updated: Jan 24, 2025, 10:39 am
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 13: Puka Nacua #17 of the Los Angeles Rams during the NFL playoff game at State Farm Stadium on January 13, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Vikings 27-9 (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- Former BYU standout and now superstar wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams Puka Nacua just wrapped up his sophomore season in the NFL with a loss in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Puka Nacua has been a pillar of the Rams’ offense all year, providing a sure pair of hands for Matthew Stafford to throw to. It seemed like every pass that went Nacua’s way, he somehow hauled in as he made improbable catch after improbable catch.
The numbers are even there to support Puka’s ability to catch the ball no matter the coverage as he finished the NFL season as the highest-graded wide receiver, according to Pro Football Focus.
BEST OF THE BEST 🤙 pic.twitter.com/lGvKglhyMn
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) January 22, 2025
In 2023, Puka Nacua broke the NFL’s all-time record for receiving yards by a rookie with 1,486 yards, passing a mark set by Bill Gorman more than 60 years ago.
Needless to say, the expectations loomed large for Nacua as he entered year two, but a PCL sprain that he sustained in the season’s first game placed him on injured reserve, causing Puke to miss five games.
Despite not returning until Week 8, Nacua still nearly recorded another 1,000-yard season, coming up just shy with 990. Puka finished top ten in the NFL catch percentage as he was targeted 106 times and recorded 79 receptions, snagging 74.5% of the balls that were thrown his way.
Matthew Stafford trusts Puka Nacua so much that he targeted him a total of 23 times in the Rams’ two playoff games, eight more targets than any other Los Angeles receiver.
In their final game against the Eagles, Stafford looked to Nacua 14 times, and even in the snowy conditions, he was able to pull down six catches for 97 yards, including an impressive grab in crunch time along the sideline to put the Rams in position to tie the game.
PUKAAAAA ‼️
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) January 19, 2025
Even in the face of major injury, Puka Nacua ended the season as the NFL’s highest-graded wide receiver according to Pro Football Focus, with a final grade of 92.5.
About Puka Nacua
Before his college career, the Provo, Utah native played high school football at Orem High School. He finished his career with the Tigers as the owner of multiple state records.
After high school, the receiver attended the University of Washington and played a couple of seasons for the Huskies.
After the 2020 season, Nacua returned home to Provo and immediately became a star for the Cougars.
Nacua finished his BYU career with a total of 91 catches for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns as well as 39 carries for 357 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Puka, man.
Gotta catch 'em all 🏈 pic.twitter.com/7rsLawwY3S
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2024
In April 2023, the Rams selected Nacua with the No. 177 overall pick during the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Nacua finished his first season as a professional with an NFL rookie record 105 receptions for 1,486 yards. He also scored six touchdowns.
The rookie wideout received NFL All-Pro second-team honors for his play in 2023. He finished as the runner-up to C.J. Stroud for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
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