LOOK: Los Angeles Rams, Cam Akers make cool arrangement for number switch
Last year for the Los Angeles Rams, Odell Beckham Jr. wore No. 3 when he arrived from the Cleveland Browns. As it turns out, another Rams star almost wore that number — but he will this year.
Cam Akers planned to switch his jersey to No. 3, but the NFL wanted to charge him $500,000 to do so, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. But after the season, Akers, Beckham and the Rams agreed he’ll wear that number after all, even if Beckham opts to come back to Los Angeles in free agency.
Akers only played in four games last season as he came off a torn Achilles, but wore the No. 23 on the field. However, in college at Florida State, he wore No. 3 as he rushed for nearly 3,000 yards over three years with the Seminoles from 2017-19.
The Rams drafted him as the No. 52 overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and he burst onto the scene as a rookie, rushing for 625 yards and two touchdowns during the 2020 season. His first appearance of 2021 came against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18 before playing in every playoff game en route to a Super Bowl LVI title in February.
As for Beckham, it’s unclear what direction he’ll go in free agency. He tore his ACL during that Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, and that could impact his value on the open market. One thing’s for sure, though. If he ends up back in Inglewood in 2022, he’ll wear a different number on his jersey.
The Rams, like every other NFL team, are getting ready for the NFL Draft, which is coming up this weekend. Los Angeles doesn’t have a first-round pick, meaning the Rams will have to wait until the third round to make a selection.