The NFL Draft is here, and LSU has many players likely to be answering the phone. This year’s class of Tigers is headlined by flashy offensive weapons and a few mid-round defensive tackles.
Here’s a look at those prospects:
Jayden Daniels, QB
The reigning Heisman skyrocketed up draft boards with a dynamite 2023 season. Daniels threw 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Daniels completed 72% of throws and finished with 11.7 yards per attempt.
On the ground, Daniels ran for 1134 yards, 10 touchdowns at 8.4 yards per carry. Daniels is the first player in Southeastern Conference history to throw for over 3800 yards and rush for over 1000.
His dramatic rate of improvement is a testament to his desire to learn and commitment to growth.
Daniels’ strengths as a thrower lie in his quick release and consistent mechanics that produce accuracy, primarily outside the numbers and especially on deep throws.
Partially due to the nature of LSU’s offense, Daniels’ ability to throw over the middle has been questioned. Just 9.3% of his dropbacks targeted the intermediate middle of the field, that ranked 163rd out of 196 qualifying college quarterbacks since 2019. His ball placement and tight window processing speed over the middle may require further development.
It’s important to note, it still worked. Criticizing Daniels game is difficult when he captained one of the best offenses in college football. When you have weapons like Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., why wouldn’t you keep scoring on slot fades?
He completed 64% of throws of 20 or more yards in 2023, notching 35 completions, 22 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Anyone who’s seen him play can tell you Daniels is lethal with his legs, but it should not be simplified to that. Daniels has quick, controlled feet, great field vision and the straight-line speed to outrun defensive backs. His speed and ability to change defensive angles differentiates him from nearly all dual threats in the NFL.
Daniels shows poise and awareness within the pocket but can be overly reliant on his legs when faced with pressure. Just 50.6% of his pressured dropbacks resulted in a pass attempt, that ranks 193rd of 196 qualifying quarterbacks since 2019. Learning to keep his eyes downfield and take open throws outside the pocket will be important at the next level.
At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, his slender frame makes avoiding hits paramount. Daniels has a reckless running style that has earned him comparisons to Roadrunner and Johnny Knoxville. Opting to slide, step out of bounds or take the checkdown can all serve the longevity of his career.
As one of the most coveted quarterbacks, let alone players, in the draft, there’s only so many places Daniels can land.
Adam Schefter and Albert Breer have reported hearing Daniels going at second overall, to the Washington Commanders.
Should he fall past this, the New England Patriots or a trade up from a quarterback needy team like the Minnesota Vikings or Las Vegas Raiders is most likely. Daniels has been linked to the Raiders for his connection to head coach Antonio Pierce, who coached at Arizona State when Daniels was there.
As far as fit, the most likely destination may also be the best. With Kliff Kingsbury at offensive coordinator, the Commanders air raid offense operates close to Daniels’ strengths. Vertical passing concepts, a less progression-based system and active use of quarterback mobility.
Should he land in Washington, he’ll immediately have options outside in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. The front office should prioritize tackle in the draft to ensure Daniels the clean pocket he’s used to operating from. Fortunately, they also have the 36^th and 40^th pick in the draft.
Wherever he lands, Daniels has the talent to impact the offense with his arm, legs and brain. 
Malik Nabers, WR
The Heisman’s No. 1 option ended 2023 with 89 receptions, 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns. Nabers is one the premiere wideouts in a stacked draft and will likely be taken within the top 10.
You can’t talk about Nabers without talking about his explosiveness. While burst is a necessity for all receivers, Nabers is on a different plane than his contemporaries. This allows him to easily stack defensive backs and produce after the catch.
Nabers is so dependable vertically thanks to both his athleticism, experience and use of leverage. He can change gears to burn a corner, track the ball over his head and use his body to protect the catch point all in one play.
Even in situations where the defender gets physical after the catch, Nabers is more than capable of catching through contact or breaking tackles for yards after catch.
LSU’s offense primarily oriented around north and south routes, but Nabers is much more versatile. His experience with sweeps makes him a valuable option behind the line of scrimmage. Though he may have room for refining his routes, Nabers can stop on a dime and create space with his explosiveness. 
Questions arise on where to play Nabers, in the slot or outside. From the slot, he’s afforded a free release and more space to work laterally.
On the outside, corners can use the sideline to limit available space and get physical with press coverage off the line. Nabers has so much ability that the limitation of the boundary is often surmountable for him.
Nabers has drawn skepticism around his ability to handle press coverage. If he can strategically stem his routes and use his hands off his release, press won’t be an issue.
When it comes to landing spot, Nabers is fit to go anywhere early that prioritizes wide receiver. Dane Brugler and Jordan Reid have both reported the real possibility of Nabers going off the board before Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze.
This sets up Nabers to land anywhere from the Arizona Cardinals at four to the New York Jets at 10, other interested teams could include the New York Giants, Chicago Bears or Los Angeles Chargers.
When it comes to ideal landing spot, Nabers simply wants to land with a quarterback who can maximize his skill or a situation where he isn’t immediately asked to dominate outside.
The Cardinals, Chargers and likely Bears all have arms that would benefit him. The Jets and Bears have enough weapons where Nabers could start from the slot and eventually move outside.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR
The second man in one of many LSU receiving duos, Thomas is a big-bodied athlete that, like his counterpart, loves to stretch vertically. Thomas totaled 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023.
At just under 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, it’s easy to see what makes him a threat downfield. Pair that with his athleticism, and you begin to understand how high his ceiling is.
Thomas explodes off the line, tracks the ball well and has some of the best hands out there. You can easily find snaps where Daniels sees man coverage on Thomas and sits on the read after the snap, knowing separation is inevitable.
The fluidity and body control he possesses makes him a truly unique profile. Should he sharpen his breaks and develop a more diverse route tree, Thomas could develop into a special kind of weapon.
Much like Nabers, Thomas showed room for improvement against press. With a frame as big as his, this feels like an attainable objective.
Thomas sits somewhere in the second tier of wideouts in the draft. A call between Jacksonville at 17 and Buffalo at 28 is the most plausible.
Sleeper candidates include the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburg Steelers and, in the event of a Tee Higgins trade, the Cincinnati Bengals. Though, that might be more of an LSU fantasy considering their other needs.
Masson Smith, DT
Smith is probably the fourth Tiger off the board, somewhere on day two. Standing at 6-foot-5, 306 pounds with 35-inch arms, he’s like a custom size profile for a defensive lineman.
Smith primarily played over the guards outside shoulder, known as 3-technique, but he has experience up and down the line, from nose to 5-technique.
Smith uses his length and power in tandem with sneaky quickness to cause trouble for offensive linemen. Smith had the fastest 3-cone time among 2023 defensive tackles. His pass rush arsenal includes a swim move, bull rush, swipes and clubs. You’ll almost never see him miss a tackle.
Following a dominant freshman season, Smith was sidelined for nearly his entire sophomore year. Despite a somewhat underwhelming 2023, inconsistent leadership at defensive line coach and less than two years of play fog his projection.
A coach with experience in developing defensive lineman would be best for Smith’s career. Andre Patterson with the New York Giants and Anthony Weaver with Miami Dolphins come to mind.
Mekhi Wingo, DT
Wingo is likely to come off the board shortly after Smith, late day two or early day three. His stature may raise questions, but his ability to penetrate on a consistent basis quiets them.
Wingo stands at just 6-feet, 284 pounds and has 32-inch arms. A more important measurable is his astounding 1.63 10-yard split, he had the second fastest 40-yard dash time among defensive tackles.
Work ethic and commitment earned him the 2022 Iron Tiger Award. He also had the honor of wearing No. 18, which is awarded to the player that best embodies LSU traits and spirit.
Wingo played 3-technique and used his explosiveness, fluidity and twitch to penetrate when rushing the passer. Powerful hands and high-end body control allow him to disrupt the pocket from the interior.
Wingo’s run defense draws much less attention than his pass rush, but even if this can’t be developed, he has a value in third-and-long situations.
General managers are likely to be drawn to the specialized usage Wingo can provide. If he can stay healthy, his skills can make a difference on a professional roster.
Jordan Jefferson, DT
The third LSU defensive tackle of the bunch is Jefferson. On his tape and at the combine, it’s tough to miss his background as a competitive weightlifter. Jefferson finished first in bench press among defensive tackles at the combine, with 34 reps. His strength can also be seen in his leg drive and powerful hands when handling offensive lineman.
Jefferson lacks a pass rush arsenal, in part due to his lack of lateral agility. He could benefit from better use of his 33 1/8-inch arms.
His 55 college games at the very least offer lots of experience.
Jefferson will likely land towards the end of the draft.
Charles Turner III, C
Turner uses his 34-inch arms and a strong upper body to establish leverage quick off the snap. He is one of few prospects to have started a game at center, guard and tackle during his college career.
Turner could benefit from improving his run blocking in space and refining technique away from flaws like lunging. He’s also penalty prone, drawing 10 flags his senior year. 
Turner projects as a late pick in the draft.
Other names to watch late in the draft or in the undrafted free agent market include defensive end Ovie Oghoufo, linebacker Omar Speights, safety Andre Sam and running back Noah Cain.