Fresh off a Super Bowl-winning campaign in which he took home Offensive Player of the Year honors, Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba agreed to a record-setting extension on Monday. The recipient of a four-year, $168.6MM deal, Smith-Njigba leads his position in total value, guarantees ($120MM-plus) and average salary ($42.15MM). With JSN’s future secure, the Rams’ Puka Nacua is now the highest-profile receiver in the market for an extension.
Based on production, Nacua has a case to approach or surpass Smith-Njigba’s contract this offseason. Since bursting on the scene as a fifth-round pick in 2023, Nacua has averaged 121 catches, 1,619 yards and seven touchdowns per 17 games. Smith-Njigba, a first-rounder in that same draft, has averaged 94/1,184/seven per 17 contests.
Both players posted career-best seasons in 2025. Despite missing one game, Nacua led the NFL in receptions (129) en route to a first-team All-Pro selection and his second Pro Bowl bid. Smith-Njigba paced the league in yards (1,793), leading to a first-team All-Pro pick and Pro Bowl honors for the second time.
Considering the Seahawks already had Smith-Njigba under control via his $23.85MM fifth-year option for 2027, they had plenty of time to reach an extension agreement. The team still acted quickly in locking up its No. 1 receiver. The Rams do not have the same luxury with Nacua, who is ineligible for a fifth-year option and could become a free agent next March. Nevertheless, an extension is not imminent. If it happens, it likely won’t occur until “further into the summer,” per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, who points out that the Rams also have several other extension candidates to worry about.
General manager Les Snead already handed newly acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie a mammoth payday earlier this month. Now, along with Nacua, Snead still has to consider potential new deals for MVP-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive lineman Kobie Turner, outside linebacker Byron Young, guard Steve Avila and right tackle Warren McClendon. For now, though, Snead is more concerned about other issues.
“I don’t think the Rams are looking to do extensions right now,” an NFL agent told Eric Williams of Fox Sports. “They’re focused on adding to the team only, and players under contract are under contract.”
As the Rams mull an extension for Nacua, they will have to monitor the fallout of an incident that allegedly took place on Dec. 31, 2025, TMZ reports. A woman applied for a temporary restraining order against Nacua and accused him of biting her twice, making an antisemitic remark, and exhibiting “rude or vulgar, threatening, violent, and harassing conduct.”
Levi McCathern, Nacua’s attorney, told TMZ it was just “horseplay,” though he seemingly confirmed Nacua bit the accuser in saying that it “left nothing more than a temporary mark.” He vehemently denied Nacua made antisemitic comments, however, and accused the woman of trying to shake down his client for millions of dollars. A judge denied the alleged victim’s request for a temporary restraining order, but there is a hearing scheduled for April 14.
No need to panic. Rams are just biting their time.
Rams are hoping he can continue to stay healthy.
Can 2026 be their year? Of course Adams has to stay healthy as well … Their draft will be interesting.
He may have compared this lady accuser to the singer Kiki Dee but pronounced the name wrong?
He denied the slurs, but confirmed the biting. Is it a shakedown? Probably. Is it the tip of the iceberg? Also probably.
Stafford won’t need a new deal unless he decides to play again next year. His money is guaranteed this year.
Rams are totally backed into a corner, this is why you have to get those rings while you can before your young talent gets massive extensions. Eagles facing this now too.
Let’s look at recent payrolls of SB winners:
2025 Seattle – $260,792,640 (29th)
2024 Philadelphia – $321,806,423 (4th)
2023 Kansas City – $240,100,335 (17th)
Lower payrolls are desirable but there really isn’t any direct correlation between money spent and on field success.
Probably not the total of money spent but certainly how its spent…the Cowboys are the best example of my point…..
The Cowboys have ranked 12th, 24th & 29th in dead cap money the past three years so it’s hard to say they’ve been burning money on investments that paid no dividends. Injuries and poor coaching are probably the bigger problem for them than how the payroll has been allocated.
dominating player. sort of a weirdo though. seems to love the attention off the field. hopefully he stays out of trouble.
Much like Beckum, he loves the attention he gets from being a current “star”….but he’s one injury away from the same path.
Isnt his brother worse? Thought he was taking his brother’s car? Lets hope the money doesnt go to Puka’s head …
Seems like a great person. What a character. Ahole racists will be ahole racists as they say.
Can’t blame the Rams. They are in win now mode with Stafford at the end of his career. Puka hasn’t exactly been a good teammate, remember when he was live streaming in the locker room after a game and pissed off his teammates? Or when he asked Sean McVay if he could bring Tik Tok influencers into the facility? He didn’t deny biting this woman either. Very immature. I’d be afraid to give him a top dollar contract and watch him implode.
Puka: “You’re a great coach Sean but I really think influencers from Tik Tok would be a big help managing the clock at the end of the game” 🙂
Influencers or prostitutes? haha
It works in the Hawks favor signing JSN now with the 2 additional years left. The 4 year/42.5 million average in reality is a 6 year around 33 million average when you account for the signing bonus that will be spread across the cap. Any team would be willing to sign a top 5 WR for that average during their prime years.
With Nacua going into his last year the Rams will be taking a much larger year to year cap hit.