Aaron Donald Believes Puka Nacua 'Can Do Things That Have Never Been Done' Before

Casey Lundquist | Apr 7, 2024

Jan 14, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) runs after a / David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Puka Nacua's record-breaking rookie season was well documented. The former BYU star broke a long list of records, including the rookie records for receptions and receiving yards. Nacua finished his rookie campaign with 105 receptions for 1,486 yards.

Rams star Aaron Donald, who retired after last season, had high praise for Nacua in a recent podcast appearance with former NFL player Chris Long, saying Nacua has the potential to "do things that have never been done in the league."

"You'd see a little glimpse of it at camp, but you know that's camp. I'm more of a guy you've gotta show me during game time," Donald said when asked when he first realized that Puka Nacua was capable of doing what he did in 2023.

"He started off the first week against Seattle and he had a good game. He was playing tough, he was breaking tackles, he's just a football player you know, that kind of player you just want on your team. A tough guy that plays hard, that plays tough. From the first game then he was just consistent. In the Colts game, we ended up going to overtime and he ended up making the game-winning touchdown for us. He's just been a consistent player since day one. Then he just got better and better and better. I didn't expect him to be the player he was this year, but in my opinion to be honest with you, that's probably, for any position, me personally watching that's probably the best rookie performances from any position that I got to watch."

Donald continued, "You usually see young guys that play and then they fall off a little bit, but for him to stay as poised as he did throughout the whole season as far as like he became kind of a household name as a rookie and he didn't change, he stayed the same person. He kept doing the same things every single week. If he stays like that and he stays hungry and if he wants to be great, in my opinion I think he can do things that have never been done in this league. But he's just gotta keep working. He was fun to watch. I really enjoyed watching him...and the records he was able to break as a rookie."