NFL Mock Draft: Trio of LSU Tigers Earn First Round Status
NFL.com Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein released his NFL Mock Draft 2.0 with a trio of Tigers earning first round status.
LSU signal-caller Jayden Daniels remained above North Carolina's Drake Maye at the No. 2 slot to the Washington Commanders.
The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner and leader of the No. 1 offense in college football continues roaming around the No. 2 and No. 3 slot with Zierlein placing him at the second pick in his latest mock.
“Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury had success with Johnny Manziel in college and then handpicked Kyler Murray at Arizona,” Zierlein wrote. “I see the Commanders giving him another dual-threat quarterback with Daniels."
After Daniels, Zierlein went with Nabers - the NCAA’s leader in receiving yards this past season and LSU’s program leader for receptions and receiving yards in a career - as the first wide receiver taken off of the board at No. 4 to the Arizona Cardinals.
Despite most having Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. as the top wideout, NFL.com has Nabers as the first to hear his name.
“The selection should be an easy one in terms of position choice, but stacking the top receivers will be more complicated, with a lack of consensus on the order, if my discussions with team sources tell me anything,” Zierlein wrote. “Nabers is ultra-explosive and can work all three levels.”
Then, came Brian Thomas Jr. as his meteoric rise continues up NFL Draft Boards.
Thomas Jr. stole the show during last week's NFL Scouting Combine after putting together a variation of impressive numbers.
During the 2023 season, Thomas led Division I with a whopping 17 receiving touchdowns on his way to leading a dynamic LSU offense.
Alongside Malik Nabers, Thomas Jr. helped quarterback Jayden Daniels on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy.
The 6-foot-3, 209-pound receiver out of Walker, LA has continued hitting his stride, and after piecing together an 1,100 yard season during his junior campaign, Thomas has officially entered the first round draft selection conversation.
Thomas met with several organizations including the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots, among others.
The Combine Numbers:
40 Yard Dash: 4.33
10 Yard Split: 1.50
Vertical: 38.50″
Broad: 10’6″
Now, he's projected to go No. 18 to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“While the Bengals could use tackle help on the right side immediately, Thomas gives them a highly athletic inside/outside option with electric speed who can step in and play right away; he can also become the WR2, should the team need a successor to the franchise-tagged Tee Higgins,” Zierlein wrote.
LSU's dynamic offense, led by the trio of Daniels, Nabers and Thomas, took America by storm with the impressive weapons now projected to be taken before pick No. 20 in this year's NFL Draft.
