Top 3 NFL Draft Prospects from LSU ft. Jayden Daniels & More
The LSU Tigers have had a whirlwind couple of years, but under coach Brian Kelly, the Tigers are on their way back to the top. The upcoming NFL draft will showcase another round of NFL-ready Tiger prospects.
The man getting the most attention is quarterback Jayden Daniels, but he's far from the only LSU prospect who'll go high in the NFL draft. Here's the rundown of the top three Tigers NFL draft prospects.
Top 3 LSU Draft Prospects
3. Brian Thomas, WR
A four-star recruit at LSU, Thomas became a star in 2023. He snagged 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns. At 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, Thomas also ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Given his combination of size and speed, Thomas can play outside or inside.
Thomas has relatively few weaknesses. Admittedly, his first two seasons had meager production, with just 59 total receptions. Thomas will need to add a little more diversity to his route running and will have some fine-tuning. He could probably carry another ten pounds or so of muscle on his frame too.
But Thomas is a solid first-round pick and will likely be selected around the middle of the first round. The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots are two teams that have been linked with Thomas. He could be a WR1 as soon as next season.
2. Malik Nabers, WR
Nabers was a four-star recruit who has had a couple of brilliant seasons at LSU. As a sophomore in 2022, he snagged 72 catches for 1,017 yards and three scores. He upped his production in 2023 to 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns. Nabers, who is 6 feet tall and weighs in at just under 200 pounds, runs a sub 4.4-second 40-yard dash.
Nabers probably doesn't have the physicality to be an outside target at the next level, but he can make plays in the middle of the field. He is an immediate day-one impact player in the NFL. Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr. are the clear top two non-quarterback prospects in the draft.
Nabers is being projected around pick five or six in the 2024 draft. The top handful of picks will be QB-heavy, but again, outside of quarterbacks, it's either Nabers or Harrison. He's certainly a top-ten pick and could have the best immediate performance of any pick in the NFL next season.
1. Jayden Daniels, QB
Daniels was a four-star recruit who played three seasons at Arizona State before transferring to LSU. Daniels had a solid 2022 season, passing for 2,913 yards and 17 scores while rushing for 885 yards and 11 more touchdowns. But in 2023, he exploded with Brian Kelly's offense, passing for 3,812 yards with 40 scores against four interceptions. Daniels rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.
At 6-foot-3 1/2 and 210 pounds, Daniels is a bit thin and slender. He has a slightly odd arm motion, which could put him at injury risk. Additionally, with any dual-threat quarterback, there's the risk of injury. Daniels is also going to turn 24 during his rookie season.
That said, Daniels is an elite athlete in both running and passing facets. He's currently being projected as the likely second pick in the draft by the Washington Commanders. Daniels certainly will be off the board in the top ten picks and is probably only second to Caleb Williams in the draft pecking order.
Which Tiger do you think will have the best NFL career? Let us hear your comments below in the comments section!