Many LSU Players Come Off Board on Final Day of 2022 NFL Draft
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The NFL draft is reaching its final handful of rounds and there are plenty of LSU players on the board hoping to hear their names called.
The run of LSU players continued into Saturday afternoon with five more players coming off the board in rounds four through seven, making it nine total who came off the board for the program in this draft cycle. It was also the third straight draft where at least six LSU players came off the board. Here's a little more on who went where.
Cade York (Kicker)- Cleveland Browns (No. 124 overall)
The junior kicker took a gamble on himself and it paid off in a tremendous way by going in the fourth round to Cleveland. York not only became the first placekicker in program history to come off the board and was the highest kicker taken in the NFL draft since 2016.
Whenever a team takes a kicker at a still premium spot it shows there's tremendous trust it's a player who will be able to come in and start from day one. In York's case, he's had a tremendous career, connecting on 82% of his kicks, including the most 50-yard field goals in program history, highlighted by that 57-yard game winner against Florida.
Neil Farrell (Defensive Tackle)- Las Vegas Raiders (No. 126 overall)
Farrell has been one of the more reliable inside run stoppers for the Tigers the last few seasons and while his stats didn't always show it, was a persistent, physical disrupter in the middle of the defensive line. Heading to Las Vegas, he'll be playing alongside former LSU tight end Foster Moreau.
In 2021, Farrell recorded 45 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks for the Tigers and is a good fit for a Raiders team that was on the brink of making the playoffs last season. He's tough, physical and a hard body to move on the interior which should help him carve out some sort of role.
Damone Clark (Linebacker)- Dallas Cowboys (No. 176 overall)
Clark had to wait a bit longer than expected but the talented Tigers' linebacker is off the board, going in the fifth round to the Cowboys. One of the great stories in all of the SEC last season, Clark was one of the most improved players in the country en route to a 135 tackle season that included 15.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
He will miss the entirety of his rookie season as he rehabs from spinal fusion surgery but there's no doubt how much talent Clark has when on the field and healthy. The Cowboys also drafted linebacker Jabril Cox in 2021 so there will be a friendly face in the building as Clark continues his recovery.
Austin Deculus (Offensive Line)- Houston Texans (No. 205 overall)
Deculus becomes the eighth LSU player off the board and the second draftee to be selected by the Houston Texans. The Texans also took cornerback Derek Stingley No. 3 overall so Deculus will see at least one familiar face where he'll start his NFL career.
The four year starter at primarily right tackle, Deculus set the LSU program record for starts as a reliable tackle for the purple and gold. He'll have his hands full competing for reps but for a team like Houston with so many holes to plug, he'll have an opportunity this offseason to at the very least make the roster.
Chasen Hines (Offensive Line)- New England Patriots (No. 210 overall)
Hines started at right guard in 2021 for an offensive line that struggled but had good individual pieces. It's why there have been three o-linemen drafted from that line to this point and Hines has the size to be a serviceable reserve lineman. It remains to be seen what kind of role he could have with a Patriots team that always has its sights set on the postseason.
