Los Angeles Rams legend Aaron Donald, renowned for his defensive prowess during his tenure, has weighed in on the meteoric rise of rookie sensation Puka Nacua, hailing the young receiver as a potential game-changer in the league.
Donald, who earned numerous accolades during his own rookie season, including Defensive Rookie of the Year, witnessed Nacua"s remarkable debut season in 2023.
Despite being a fifth-round pick, Nacua quickly ascended to the spotlight, shattering records and amassing an impressive 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns.
Aaron Donald: Puka Nacua can do some things that have never been done in this league. https://t.co/6VKE8JpmUp
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 9, 2024
Speaking on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast via NFL.com, Donald expressed his admiration for Nacua"s consistent performance throughout his rookie campaign.
"You see young guys that play and they fall off a little bit, but for him to stay as poised as he did through the whole season as far as, like, he became kind of a household name as a rookie and he didn’t change," Donald remarked.
The retired defensive tackle, who earned 10 Pro Bowl selections during his illustrious career, drew parallels between his own rookie success and Nacua"s promising trajectory.
"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 remarked.
"From the first game, he was just consistent," Donald recalled. "Then the Colts game, we ended up going into overtime, he ended up making the game-winning touchdown for us."
As Nacua"s star continues to rise, Donald joins a chorus of voices predicting a bright future for the young receiver.
"God, I didn’t expect him to be, you know, the player he was this year. 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," Donald concluded.
