With the No. 177 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Rams had a feeling they were on the brink of history.
The Los Angeles Rams had their eyes on wideout Puka Nacua from the start—or more like the start of the fifth round. Still, their draft room conversation last April revealed just how high they were on the BYU product.
A recent clip released by NFL Films gave viewers the chance to be a fly on the wall of the Rams’ draft war room, where coach Sean McVay and other Rams staffers were openly discussing Nacua’s potential.
A few scouts pointed out Nacua’s unimpressive combine stats. The Cougars wide receiver clocked a 4.57 40-yard dash, and on top of that, he went into the draft with a somewhat troubling health record that included a broken foot, sprained ankle, and other minor injuries.
McVay saw past all that and told general manager Les Snead that he wanted Nacua in the building.
“I think this guy would be really good for us, Les,” McVay said. “I want a guy that is going to be where he’s supposed to be, that’ll stay grounded through the catch, aggressive hands, that will dig out support in the run game. And then we can also give him—he can be an extension of the run game.”
"We're going to nail that pick."
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2024
Sean McVay and Les Snead knew they were drafting someone special with the 177th overall pick, @AsapPuka. (via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/vhKINsrs5m
Nacua, taken by the Rams at No. 177, exploded in his rookie year with 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. In Week 18, he set the rookie record for most receptions and receiving yards in a single season. It’s safe to say he met McVay’s expectations, and then some.
As Snead told McVay in the war room that April, “He’s a tough kid. To me, he showed there’s a tenacity and a toughness and a fight, and if you teach him technique, he’ll be able to ball…We know we got the guy you want. You got a vision for him. We’re gonna nail that pick.”
The rest is history.
