A new report on Thursday confirmed what we suspected about the number drama involving former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and sophomore defensive back DJ Pickett.

In case you somehow missed the story, Daniels is upset that LSU gave out the No. 5 to Pickett for the 2026 season.

Pickett was apparently promised the number at LSU as a recruit.

An attorney representing Commanders QB Jayden Daniels informed LSU it can no longer use his name, image and likeness and said he felt "profoundly disrespected" after LSU allowed cornerback DJ Pickett to wear his former No. 5 jersey. https://t.co/GieZ0vWEaM

— ESPN (@espn) August 13, 2026

On3’s Pete Nakos reported on Thursday morning that getting to wear the No. 5 is in Pickett’s contract with LSU.

Pickett wore No. 3 as a true freshman last season under then head coach Brian Kelly.

We speculated that getting to wear the number was added into Pickett’s contract when he agreed to return to LSU for the 2026 season.

And according to Matt Moscona of LouisianaSports.Net, that’s exactly the case.

“When Pickett was negotiating his contract to return to LSU, money was not the source of the negotiation, but rather the jersey number, LSU sources confirmed,” wrote Moscona.

Here’s what I think happened: Someone under Kelly made the promise to Pickett without clearing it with Kelly. Then Kelly wasn’t on board with giving the number to Pickett because he didn’t want to disrespect Daniels. When the new staff under Lane Kiffin was trying to get Pickett to stay, they agreed to put the number stuff in the new contract without talking to Daniels first.

And now LSU is in a situation where Daniels is pissed, and Pickett has dug his heels in on wearing the number (Pickett’s dad told Nola.com that the situation with Daniels just makes Pickett want to wear the number even more).

NEW: In an interview with The Advocate on Thursday, DJ Pickett's father shared his response to Jayden Daniels' cease-and-desist letter to #LSU.

Don't expect DJ to change numbers anytime soon.

"This right here makes us want to wear the number more."https://t.co/AxRXTjS5lp

— Koki Riley (@KokiRiley) August 13, 2026

Kiffin wants to point to the promise that was made to Pickett during his recruitment, but the blame for this situation lies with whoever agreed to put the number in the new contract without speaking with Daniels.

Ultimately, the head coach is responsible for what happens in his program, so I think the blame for the drama, whether you think it’s silly or not, lies with Kiffin.

Daniels is entitled to feel how he feels. The previous head coach, whether you hate him or love him, felt the same. So when the new head coach comes in and issues the number without first talking to Daniels — he found out via promotional photos showing Pickett wearing the number — it’s understandable that he’s going to feel slighted.