It took 177 picks for the most valuable player in the 2023 NFL Draft to come off the board. Is that why people are hesitant to admit that player is Puka Nacua, the NFL’s current leader with 3.6 yards per route run, according to Next Gen Stats?
Coming off of a 5-12 season, their worst under Sean McVay, the Rams picked Nacua with the last pick of the fifth round, which was also L.A.’s fourth pick of that round alone. Few thought that the Rams had a need at wide receiver or that the 177th pick would be the one to replace Cooper Kupp if someone had to do it, but Nacua is as responsible for L.