How Kupp and Adams have made Puka a better receiver

"LOS ANGELES -- Puka Nacua remembers the first time he heard Cooper Kupp's voice. It was during the Los Angeles Rams' organized team activities in 2023, not long after Nacua was drafted in the fifth round. Kupp, entering his seventh NFL season, was participating in meetings virtually as he awaited the birth of his third son. But even over video call, Nacua quickly realized how valuable it would be to get to learn from the veteran receiver. That moment was memorable, Nacua said, because after hearing Kupp speak, he quickly realized he had a mentor in the Rams wide receivers room."

"When Kupp left the Rams over the offseason, the unofficial role of Nacua's mentor became available. Enter Davante Adams, whose knowledge "is something different from what we're used to, having somebody like 'Coop' in the system for a long time," Nacua said in June. During OTAs last spring, Nacua asked Adams to lead drills because he wanted to make sure he could watch Adams himself. It wasn't just about respect, Nacua said. It was about the young receiver genuinely wanting to learn."

Puka Nacua first heard Cooper Kupp's voice during the Rams' 2023 organized team activities while Kupp attended meetings virtually as he awaited his third child's birth. Hearing Kupp convinced Nacua that he had a mentor in the receivers room. When Kupp left in the offseason, Davante Adams arrived and brought a different kind of knowledge and mentality. Nacua asked Adams to lead drills during OTAs so he could observe and learn. Nacua credits both veterans with maturing his game by exposing him to two different approaches to pursuing greatness and following coach Eric Yarber's advice to closely learn from Cooper Kupp early on.

Read at ESPN.com