Rams Insider: Cooper Kupp & Puka Nacua Will Be '1A/1B' in L.A's Offense (msn.com)
Rams Insider: Cooper Kupp & Puka Nacua Will Be '1A/1B' in L.A's Offense
Story by Jacob Brockhoff • 15hr
- Cooper Kupp has developed into one of the best receivers in the NFL during his time with the Los Angeles Rams.
- The Rams also drafted Puka Nacua in 2023, and he had an excellent rookie season.
..........
Cooper Kupp and
Puka Nacua,..........Both of these players have proved now that they can produce at a high level, and it's tough to predict who will end up being better in 2024.
The truth is, it would be very hard to find a team with a better receiving duo than the Rams right now.
Kupp has missed some games with injuries over the past couple of seasons, but he's still managed to produce while he's on the field. ............
........Nacua was dominant in his rookie season, and was important during the time Kupp missed with injuries. Nacua finished just shy of 1,500 receiving yards, and brought in 105 receptions, with six touchdowns. He instantly became a contributor for the team, and finished second in offensive rookie of the year voting, while also being named a Second Team All-Pro.
Kupp and Nacua in 2023
Stat - Kupp - Nacua
Games - 12 - 17
Receptions - 59 - 105
Receiving Yards - 737 - 1,486
Yards per Reception - 12.5 - 14.2
Receiving TDs - 5 - 6
Receiving Yards per Game - 61.4 - 87.4
While Nacua was impressive in 2023, Grosbard did suggest that Nacua still has a little bit more to prove before being ranked above Kupp:
There's a difference between a guy going into his second year versus someone like Cooper who's, you know, had his triple crown season, Super Bowl MVP, all that, you know... It's a different level of someone who's been in the league for a while, knows how to take care of their body, versus someone who's getting their first real o***eason.
Grosbard does make some solid points here. Although Kupp
has struggled to stay healthy over the past couple of seasons, his last full season was incredible. While Nacua
showed a ton of promise in his rookie season, he's still got a bit to prove, hence Grosbard's 1A and 1B rankings.
Either way, having to decide which of your two elite receivers is the best sounds like a pretty good problem to have.