Puka Nacua was a revelation when he joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2023. A fifth-round pick, it was unclear what the ceiling was for the dynamic wide receiver, but it quickly became apparent that he was no normal fifth-rounder.
Two years into his career, he’s solidified himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league. However, for fans tuning in to Los Angeles games, they might see the superstar sporting the number 12 instead of his usual 17. While the switch became official this year, it had been in the works for some time.
Puka Nacua’s Fifth-Round Penalty
There were certainly perks to Nacua coming into the league as a fifth-rounder. His success was widely unexpected, and it made for an impossibly excellent season as he put together 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his debut campaign.
However, his draft standing also came with its penalties. For the majority of his career, Nacua had worn either the number 15 or 12, adopting the latter in his final two years at BYU. But when he arrived in Los Angeles, he was assigned number 17.
He did try to change it back to his preferred number—only to run into a weird complication. Speaking to Julian Edelman on the “Games With Names” podcast, the one-time Pro Bowler revealed the hilarious situation he landed in.
“I was already planning to switch to 12. You got to file the paperwork and stuff, they gotta buy out all your jerseys and stuff. They were like, ‘It’ll be $500,000 to switch your jersey.’ I’m like, ‘I think you forgot when I got drafted. I don’t got that type of money, bruh.'”
"They're like It’ll be $500,000 to switch your jersey. I'm like, I think you forgot when I got drafted. I don’t got that type of money!" pic.twitter.com/8u2ccZrMsh
— Games with Names (@gameswithnames) April 11, 2025
As a result, the change didn’t happen at the time. But Nacua did fill out the paperwork to take effect the following year. That’s when he got the news: “We signed Davante Adams.” Ultimately, the difference of a few short weeks ended up costing him a hefty sum.
“If I would have waited three more weeks,” Nacua pondered.
But the matter is resolved now. Nacua is switching back to the number 12 he wore in college, while Adams takes the number 17 he’s worn throughout his decade-long NFL career.
The six-time Pro Bowler was one of the biggest acquisitions of the offseason for the Rams, who lost Cooper Kupp in the summer. As Adams takes over the former Super Bowl MVP’s role, his health and availability should be a major bonus for a Los Angeles team that needs a jolt at the beginning of the season.