FOXBORO, Mass. — The Patriots showed interest in Puka Nacua before New England drafted seven players before the receiver was selected.
Oh, what could have been.
Nacua met with the Patriots at the Senior Bowl and at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. At the time, the BYU product said those visits were “really good,” and expressed interest in playing in New England given the Utah native’s comfort in the cold.
Nacua reflected on those conversations after he helped the Los Angeles Rams earn a 28-22 victory at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. One very specific aspect of the sit-down stood out.
“I remember actually they were asking me about my blue light glasses,” Nacua said with a laugh after he caught seven passes for 123 yards and one touchdown.
Coincidentally, Nacua wore the same glasses as he spoke with reporters.
“I was like ‘Oh, man, maybe they thought I was really prepared to take care of my body, which I feel like I’m getting better at,” Nacua said. “But that was one of the things I remember from the Patriots interview.”
Nacua was drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft (No. 177 overall). The 23-year-old earned Pro Bowl honors after he caught 105 balls for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. He’s arguably the biggest steal of the NFL draft.
The Patriots probably don’t have any regrets about their first-round pick in 2023, a selection they used on standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez. But New England drafted seven players before Nacua, including fourth-rounders Jake Andrews (No. 107), Chad Ryland (No. 112) and Sidy Sow (No. 117) as well as fifth-rounder Atonio Mafi (No. 144). Ryland and Mafi no longer are in New England and Sow might not be for much longer either.
If only the Patriots went with the productive wideout who wore the blue light glasses.
