Turf Show Times
Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua has been elite all season, earning recognition from ESPN as one of the top players at his position this season.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell listed Nacua among his 2025 NFL first-team All-Pro picks, the lone Rams player to do so:
“A special season from a special player. Nacua is the most efficient receiver in football, averaging a league-best 3.9 yards per route run. He leads the NFL in receiving yards over expectation (434) and is second in yards after catch over expectation behind the next guy on this list, per Next Gen Stats. Targets thrown to Nacua have generated 105.9 EPA — 19 EPA ahead of any other receiver in the league.
The only player with more EPA in a single receiving season in the Next Gen Stats era, ironically enough, is Cooper Kupp from his 2021 campaign with these Rams. Nacua’s behind only by virtue of missing a game-plus with an ankle injury, and he still has Week 18 to catch up. And none of this covers what Nacua does as a blocker, where he has been essential for the Rams.”
Nacua was named alongside Jaxson Smith-Njigba and George Pickens. His selection is not a surprise given everything he’s done this season, and that is despite having an injury scare earlier in the year.
Additionally, the Rams saw their lone other All-Pro selection on the second-team at kicker — yes, I’m only kidding. L.A. had two picks on the second-team — Matthew Stafford, who got passed over for the Patriots’ Drake Maye, and defensive tackle Kobie Turner.
Stafford being booted from the first-team in favor was also not a surprise. In the eyes of most everyone in the media, he lost MVP on Monday night against the Falcons.
Truly, Nacua was the most deserving of any Rams player included on ESPN’s All-Pro selections. Perhaps he can wake up the Rams amid their recent slide and help power them to a second Super Bowl title under Sean McVay like his former partner-in-crime Cooper Kupp did a few short years ago.
