Step aside, C.J. Stroud. It’s clear that Puka Nacua should be the winner of the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Nacua deserves such an honor as he’s been the most prolific, efficient and overachieving rookie in the NFL.
His numbers speak for themselves. He’s tied for eighth in the NFL for total receptions (101) and fourth in yards (1,445). He ranks above multiple All-Pro players and the next rookies compared to Nacua rank 18th (Sam LaPorta) in receptions and 29th (Rashee Rice) in yards.
When targeted, Nacua catches the ball 65% of the time. He makes up 36% of Matthew Stafford’s passing yards. In comparison, during Cooper Kupp’s Offensive Player of the Year campaign, he accounted for 40% percent of Stafford’s yards. This is even more impressive when you realize the Rams had 12 other players catch a pass from Stafford in 2023.
Keep in mind that while Stroud is on pace to break franchise records, Nacua is on pace to break NFL records. Nacua is tied for second with Anquan Boldin for the most receptions by a rookie in one season, trailing Jaylen Waddle by three catches. He also sits third in receiving yards by a rookie, trailing Bill Groman by only 28 yards with one game to go. Boldin and the second-leading receiver in rookie yards, Ja’Marr Chase, both won Offensive Rookie of the Year. Despite the award not existing during Groman’s rookie year, his numbers earned him an All-AFL first-team selection.
Nacua has been an elite force for the Rams. He possesses a variety of abilities but the best ability is availability. Unlike Stroud, Nacua has played every game, put up video game numbers and he’s exceeded expectations in a way Stroud never could. Stroud was expected to succeed by NFL standards. Second overall pick, elite left tackle teammate, young coaches and had an excellent college career at a highly touted school. Stroud was and had all that.
Nacua was a fifth-round pick from BYU. He wasn’t even the Rams’ first fifth-round pick, or even their third. The Rams took three players before Nacua in the fifth round: Nick Hampton, Warren McClendon and Davis Allen. Nacua was also the 19th wide receiver selected in the draft.
Highly doubted then, highly favored now. Nacua is not only the best rookie receiver, he’s playing like the best receiver in the game. He exceeds Stroud in a variety of categories despite playing a position where you must rely on another person to achieve statistical gain.
He is the best rookie in the NFL and the voting committee for the NFL Honors needs to recognize that.