Puka Nacua situation expected to have an impact on Rams draft decisions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams have a rather important NFL draft, even if it doesn't seem like it. The Rams had two picks, but moved on from one of them in a deal for Trent McDuffie.
Now holding a top 15 pick, the Rams will have to make a decision on what they want to do. There have been reports indicating that finding a wide receiver in free agency or the draft is a priority for Los Angeles right now, and according to the latest, that's still something Los Angeles is looking to do.
“After trading for Trent McDuffie trade, the Rams are working with a lower number of picks than they normally do, so I’d expect GM Les Snead and COO Tony Pastoors to work the phones to move around some.
"But at 13, most across the league expect the Rams to take a receiver, both because Davante Adams is 33 and because Puka Nacua—presuming he gets his house in order—is going to be very expensive soon (meaning they’ll need a more affordable option on the roster). Most of the scuttlebutt with other teams connects USC’s Makai Lemon to the Rams, and I’d buy that in Lemon (and Cooper, for that matter) being their type of receiver.
“ But I’d also bet, based on what I know, that Sean McVay might see a little something in Tyson based on the Rams’ affection for Tetairoa McMillan last year. The Rams have at least sniffed around on a trade-up. I wouldn’t count on it, but … Also, I listed cornerback as a need, even with McDuffie and Jaylen Watson aboard, just because the Rams continued to do a lot of work on the position even after those acquisitions,” Albert Breer wrote.
The harsh reality here is that the Rams will eventually have to move on from Davante Adams, or he's going to call it a career and they'll be left empty-handed.
The Puka Nacua situation is also one to follow, as the hope is that he deals with what he has to off the field and returns to playing as well as he typically does. However, the contract situation will eventually be something to monitor, so Los Angeles might want to improve its room now and figure the rest out later.
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