New NFL Rumors on Puka Nacua, Rams Contract Talks After Blockbuster Myles Garrett Trade with Browns

The Los Angeles Rams pushed all of their chips into the center of the table on Monday, reportedly trading Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third to the Cleveland Browns for superstar edge-rusher Myles Garrett.

As for their own pending free agents in 2027, however, the team may be taking the patient approach.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, "Sources say L.A. is giving early impressions it won't extend 2027 free agents Puka Nacua, Byron Young, Kobie Turner [or] Steve Avila this summer. Perhaps that changes but deals are not on the radar right now."

Part of that could be navigating the financial implications of the Garrett deal.

Per ESPN's Dan Graziano, the Rams are going to be on the hook for a $17 million cap hit due to the Garrett acquisition in 2027 and will still have a cap hit of $1.9 million from Verse (much of the cap implications of the trade remain with the Browns, who have a $15.5 million cap hit this year and a $25.5 million cap hit in 2027 from Garrett's contract).

All in all, Garrett is a pretty good deal from a financial standpoint for Los Angeles, though of course they gave up an excellent young player in Verse and three premium draft picks to land him. And there's always the possibility Garrett seeks to rework the deal at some point.

As for Nacua, he'll surely get his lucrative extension at some point. The 25-year-old has emerged as one of the sport's elite offensive playmakers, catching 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

There have been some injury concerns early in his career, but when he's on the field he's a true difference-maker. It's hard to imagine the Rams letting him hit the open market.

If that means they use the franchise tag on him in a year, they'd almost assuredly do so. But coming to terms on a long-term deal before that point would obviously be ideal.

It just doesn't sound like something that is necessarily an immediate priority.