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.