ESPN released their yearly anonymous survey from NFL executives, coaches and scouts on the top 10 players at their respective positions.
Today, ESPN released the wide receiver section of the survey, revealing players Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson at the one and two spots, respectively.
Just outside the top 10 is Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who was listed as an honorable mention.
Jeremy Fowler states the wide receiver was considered for the ninth and 10th spots on the list, calling those spots a “voting cluster.” In the ninth and 10th spots ahead of the former BYU Cougar are Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans and New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson.
Puka recorded 990 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in only 11 games in his second season with the Rams.
One NFC coach was surprised Puka was not listed in the top 10 at wide receivers, “I can’t believe he’s not in the top 10. He’s just got the ‘it’ factor.”
Executive and Coach Praise Puka Nacua
GettyLos Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua.
Although not ranked in the top 10 receivers heading into the 2025-26 season, executives and coaches still have high praise for Puka Nacua.
“His ability to play fast through the catch is rare, so even though he might not have the top-end speed, he’s playing fast and efficiently all the time,” an anonymous coordinator said.
“Legitimate strength and hands and RAC ability, plays big in critical moments — probably doesn’t have the high-end ability as some of the others on the list,” one AFC executive said of Nacua.
Pro Football Focus’s Trevor Sikkema listed Puka as the fifth-best receiver in the league entering next season.
“Nacua missed time in 2024 but still finished with the league’s highest receiving grade at 93.0, pushing his two-year total to nearly 3,000 receiving yards. He’s neither the biggest nor the fastest, but few receivers are more difficult to cover,” Sikkema wrote.
PFF also named Puka as one of the 50 best players for the 2025-26 season.
“He’s also coming off a 1,486-yard rookie season in 2022. Over the past two years, he ranks seventh among receivers in PFF WAR (1.01). The scary part? Nacua is still getting better, building on an already elite level of production and efficiency.”
Puka On Playing with Davante Adams
GettyNew Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua.
The Rams signed wide receiver Davante Adams to a two-year, $40 million deal to help bolster the receiving room after releasing Cooper Kupp.
Puka Nacua joined NFL Network’s “The Insiders,” saying he is excited to learn from his new teammate.
“It’s definitely gonna be different,” Nacua said on The Insiders, via NFL. “Davante, as soon as he stepped into the facility has been fantastic. The ability to learn from another all-time great has been — I feel like I’m stealing — I’m like a kid in the candy store.”
“I’ve had Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay, Cooper Kupp and now Davante Adams. My life is pretty good, I can’t complain too much. It’s gonna be fun.”
With Nacua now learning under Adams, he can up his game and soon be polled as a top 10 receiver by executives, coaches and scouts in his third season.
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