C.j. Daniels Is No Puka Nacua

Two of the biggest winners in the L.A. Rams preseason opener on Saturday were receivers who didn’t even suit up, which includes Konata Mumpfield and Jordan Whittington, because on Sean McVay’s team it’s not how you play in the preseason but how often you don’t play that really matters. And whereas Brennan Presley and Xavier Smith were praised as standouts for the Rams among those who suited up against the Chiefs, sixth-round rookie C.J. Daniels was more of “just a guy” in his preseason debut.

Since L.A. made one of the best day three picks in NFL Draft history in 2023, it’s become common for fans to compare Rams rookie receivers to Puka Nacua. It happened to Whittington in 2024, Mumpfield in 2025, and Daniels in 2026. None of them are likely to come anywhere near Nacua’s already-historic career as a fifth-round pick, but at least Whittington and Mumpfield have earned enough of McVay’s respect to have graduated out of preseason action.

Meanwhile, their gain means that Daniels is up against an even bigger wall to make McVay’s 53-man roster. After catching just two-of-five targets for 18 yards in the first preseason game, Daniels has work ahead of him to climb up the depth chart before final cuts.

Puka Nacua’s rookie offseason

There was nothing unusual about Nacua’s offseason in 2023, the months after he was drafted. Not really. There was hype that Nacua may be a diamond in the rough, but that’s typical. Fans, media, they do that with dozens, or even hundreds of rookies every year. It doesn’t matter that much.

When it really started to matter was after Nacua’s preseason debut.

It was August 12, 2023, and Nacua caught three passes for 32 yards with a touchdown against the L.A. Chargers. Fittingly, Nacua was also catching passes from Stetson Bennett, as Daniels did for a short time on Saturday.

The touchdown isn’t what matters though. Not really.

It’s what happened afterwards:

McVay didn’t let Puka Nacua dress for the rest of the preseason. He had earned his stripes. McVay showed fans through actions, not words, that Nacua would be L.A.‘s WR2 when Cooper Kupp was healthy, and WR1 when he wasn’t. That’s what you call a real diamond in the rough, not just offseason hype.

In Nacua’s NFL debut, he was targeted 15 times.

The receivers compared to Nacua in the years since? They’re lucky to be targeted more than 15 times in an entire season.

And Daniels, unfortunately for him, is now firmly situated behind the two receivers who got into McVay’s system earlier than him and have been graduated from preseason reps.

Konata Mumpfield rising

In L.A.’s first depth chart of the month, Whittington and Mumpfield were on the second-string depth chart behind Nacua and Davante Adams. This was reaffirmed by McVay’s decision to not let either of them suit up on Saturday.

The top-4 wide receivers on the depth chart is undeniable:

• Puka Nacua
• Davante Adams
• Konata Mumpfield
• Jordan Whittington

Mumpfield and Whittington could be interchangeable, but they are definitely in the 3-4 slots.

But Mumpfield also got an endorsement from Adams in the offseason, something the veteran receiver has rarely done for young receivers. He doesn’t really like praising players and giving them a big ego, but Adams has been a little more public than usual about his admiration for Mumpfield.

There’s also the chance that because Whittington has had more time to prove himself, but didn’t really get better in 2025, that Mumpfield has the higher ceiling and more room to grow.

Whittington had 18 catches for 171 yards in 2025, whereas Mumpfield had 10 catches for 92 yards. Both not good numbers, especially in terms of yards per catch.Xavier Smith was better than both of them combined.

Players like Daniels and Pressley certainly do not have to climb over Terrell Owens and Jerry Rice to get the WR3 spot. That’s not in dispute:

This doesn’t mean that Whittington and Mumpfield are better than Daniels. It doesn’t mean that Daniels couldn’t move up the depth chart by the end of the year, if not sooner. We’re talking about a role that will continue to be up for grabs—partially because it’s also just not that important.

Don’t forget 12 and 13 Personnel

Other Rams who didn’t play on Saturday include Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen. Max Klare got his fair share of playing time.

With Nacua and Adams playing the vast majority of snaps in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR), there won’t be much time for Whittington, Mumpfield, or Daniels, while they’re healthy.

But it also means that the WR5 or WR6 essentially needs to be a special teamer. And a good one.

The Rams will probably play Ferguson a lot more snaps than they play WR3, and especially WR4 (who will barely play), meaning that Daniels has yet another obstacle to clear before he’s ever seen on the field.

It certainly isn’t going to happen as fast as it did for Nacua, and frankly in this league, the last thing coaches are known for…is patience.

Daniels could be WR7 right now

We’ve established that Nacua and Adams are 1 and 2, and we should by now all agree that Whittington and Mumpfield are moving up to 3 and 4, leaving a battle for WR5-6-7.

We also know that it’s unlikely a WR7 makes the roster.

Daniels caught two passes, and his three incomplete targets can’t all be blamed on him. Here, he makes a fine contested catch in the middle of the field for his best play of the day:

That’s all well and good. But in this league, you make your own luck. Coaches don’t have sympathy for “well it’s not my fault” excuses. Everything is your fault. That’s called accountability. Get open more often. Demand attention.

If you’re undeniable, you can’t be denied.

Pressley had a better game as a receiver. Xavier Smith had a better game as a receiver. Klare had a better game as a receiver.

These are not opinions. These are facts.

What could be an opinion is that C.J. Daniels blocked his ass off and is trying to earn a spot by being a good player when he’s not being targeted:

That will certainly put y0u in McVay’s good graces too. Although, it won’t matter if Whittington and Mumpfield are also good blockers. Then what’s separating you from them in a positive way?

More cost-controlled years on your contract, maybe.

Daniels said all the right things after the game, calling the preseason an “opportunity for young guys” and practice squad guys to show what they can do. He had a few chances to do that and he did almost all that was asked of him, for which he deserves accolades and attention and more chances in the future.

However, preseason is also about something else:

A statement about the guys who don’t play.

Daniels is not in the Rams’ top-4, and now he’s in a battle with Pressley, Smith (who is likely to have a 53-man spot because of special teams), Tyler Scott, Tru Edwards, and Mario Williams.

Players like Pressley and Williams are far more likely to end up on the practice squad. Unlikely to make the 53, unlikely to get claimed by another team.

Daniels is stuck in limbo between these two places:

• He’s not good enough yet to be in McVay’s immediate plans
• He’s good enough that maybe a team will claim him if he’s cut

It’s still unlikely a team will claim Daniels, but it may be too risky for McVay to find out.

C.J. Daniels can put himself on the map next week by doing even better in his next preseason game. But then he’ll really get our attention in the third preseason game … if he doesn’t suit up at all.