Yahoo Sports tabbed Puka as the 6th-best draft pick of the last 25 years
Puka Nacua set the NFL world ablaze from the moment he began suiting up for the Los Angeles Rams. In just two years, Nacua has established himself as one of the league’s top young wideouts. He was a “once-in-a-generation” pick for the Rams, according to one outlet.
Frank Schawb of Yahoo Sports tabbed Nacua as the 6th-best draft pick of the last 25 years in his July 8 column:
“For years we’ll be asking the question, “Who is this year’s Puka Nacua?” And the answer, more often than not, will be “nobody.” This was a once-in-a-generation pick for the Rams. Nacua was a fifth rounder who had a good production profile in college but nonetheless was ignored for the first two-plus days of the draft. It didn’t take long for the rest of the NFL to regret passing on him. Nacua set an NFL rookie record for receiving yards.”
Only Antonio Brown, Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy (bleh) and that Tom Brady guy were placed ahead of the BYU product. To be placed alongside those greats—and Brock Purdy—lets you know how truly special the pick was.
Aaron Donald also made the cut at No. 17, in case you were wondering. Front office personnel and owners are still haunted by not selecting AD, and if Puka continues his upward trajectory, he’ll be keeping those same people up at night.
Very rarely do fifth-rounders post the production that Nacua has to begin his career. It does make you wonder how the rest of the league could’ve whiffed so badly in evaluating him.
Fortunately, the Rams recognized his value when everyone else overlooked him, and the rest is history.
Hell yeah, lucky us, right?
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