PUKA NACUA, Rams’ star everything (Rams photo).

I grew up (to the extent that I ever really grew up) watching Roman Gabriel throwing the “post route” deep pass to Jack Snow to the end zone and another Rams touchdown.

Although I respect all the positions in football, the wide receiver is the one I most admired. The Rams have long been blessed with outstanding wideouts, including Cooper Kupp, now with the Seahawks.

There’s one who may turn out to be the most memorable, which is a lot to say about a team that has future Hall of Famer Davante Adams.

I’m talking about Puka Nacua, whose play has lifted the Rams into Super Bowl contention. Matthew Stafford is superb, but when was the last time you saw him throw a block?

Puka is an outstanding wide receiver. He runs clean patterns, is (almost) always where he’s supposed to be. He finds the spot, squares up his body and presents a great target for Stafford. It almost looks like they’re playing “catch” in the backyard. He averages 107.2 yards receiving per game.

But he also can be called upon to carry the ball on a short-yardage situation and blocks downfield when someone else is the receiver. This season he’s only had four drops out of 166 “targets” and only one drop in 2025.

And he looks so darn cheerful and friendly doing it all. Some football players look perpetually angry, as if they’re working in a coal mine for $4 an hour and a bus pass.

Puka seems to be glorying in the big show he’s starring in and having a ball (so to speak).

It’s going to be good if Nacua wins the offensive player of the year award without being, well, offensive at all.