Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua had a 2023 season for the ages, setting rookie records with 105 catches and 1,486 yards.
Nacua has a former teammate and future Hall of Famer in his corner who thinks he could be one of the all-time greats if he continues on his current trajectory.
Former Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who retired last month, spoke glowingly of Nacua on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast.
"If he stays like that and he stays hungry and if he wants to be great, in my opinion, I think he can do some things that [have] never been done in this league," Donald said. "He's just got to keep working, but he was fun to watch."
Nacua was great all year long in 2023 and finished his first campaign by setting a postseason record in the wild-card round. In the Rams 24-23 loss to the Detroit Lions, Nacua recorded the most receiving yards by a rookie with 182 yards on nine receptions, taking one for a touchdown.
Donald felt Nacua was the same player and person all season long, which fueled his success.
"He's just been a consistent player since Day 1, and then he just got better and better and better. It's like, God, I didn't expect him to be the player he was this year," Donald explained. "But in my opinion, to be honest with you, for any position, me personally watching, that's probably one of the best rookie performances from any position that I got the opportunity to watch."
Puka Nacua couldn't have picked a better time to score his first touchdown
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 1, 2023
Rams take down the Colts in OT. pic.twitter.com/FtdPk0dWsn
Donald isn't the only one surprised by how good Nacua was during his rookie campaign. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been drafted in the fifth round last year.
The Rams struck gold with the BYU product. Now he and Cooper Kupp are one of the best receiver tandems in the NFL. And that won't be changing this fall.
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