For those who plan on watching the NFL draft on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, expect to hear LSU on multiple occasions as the Tigers are on track to break a school record for most players drafted.
LSU has 16 draft eligible players this year, the most since 2014.
The 2014 draft saw nine Tigers drafted, which is tied for the most in school history. That was also the last time a Tiger was drafted in the first round: the New York Giants selected Odell Beckham Jr. at pick 12.
Projected first rounders
The 2017 draft could see three Tigers drafted in the first round.
Running back Leonard Fournette and safety Jamal Adams have both been projected as top five picks. It would be the first time two Tigers were picked in the top five since 1960, when Billy Cannon was picked first overall by the L.A. Rams and Johnny Robinson was picked third overall by the Detroit Lions.
“I think Jamal goes No. 3 or No. 4 to Chicago or Jacksonville,” draft analyst Mike Detillier said. “The fifth spot is the catch, not that the Titans would take [Fournette], but that would be an area where if someone wanted to move up, the Titans are willing to move back. It’s possible that both go in the top five.”
Adams would also be LSU’s first top-five pick since the Arizona Cardinals took Patrick Peterson with the fifth overall pick in 2011.
Cornerback Tre’Davious White is also projected to be a middle to late first-round pick. White would be the first Tiger cornerback taken in the first round since the Dallas Cowboys selected Morris Claiborne sixth overall in the 2012 NFL draft.
Projected second and third rounders
For the second straight year, an LSU linebacker flew up the draft boards, and just like Deion Jones, Duke Riley looks to be a late second-round pick. Riley has been one of the biggest risers this draft cycle as the fastest linebacker at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
“The story is Duke Riley,” Detillier said. “When the season started in August of last year, he was a free agent grade. He had not started at LSU, he was a reserve special teams guys. Now, he is at a place where he could be a late second, early third-round pick. There is no one in this draft class who made that big of a jump in less than a year. It’s remarkable.”
Riley is joined by offensive lineman Ethan Pocic, wide receiver Malachi Dupre and linebacker Kendell Beckwith, who Detillier believes can sneak into the top 100 picks, as other players who are projected as day two selections.
Pocic is helped by his versatility, and Dupre has seen a bump toward the top of the third round based on raw ability. Beckwith’s draft stock was hurt by a knee injury, but he is one of the better pure run-stopping middle linebackers in the draft.
Projected fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounders
Defensive lineman Davon Godchaux will most likely be the first Tiger taken on day three and could even see a late rise into the third round. Joining him is wide receiver Travin Dural. Godchaux and Dural have both seen their stock tumble from where it was in the preseason, with underwhelming test scores at the combine and LSU’s pro-day.
Fringe draft prospects
The biggest key to LSU breaking the record for most Tigers ever drafted is for a few of these players to be picked in the late rounds.
These players are pass rusher Tashawn Bower, defensive lineman Lewis Neal, guard Josh Boutte, tight ends Colin Jeter and DeSean Smith and defensive backs Dwayne Thomas and Rickey Jefferson.
“There’s potential,” Detillier said. “Jeter is one, Dwayne Thomas on defense. I think a lot of Dwayne because he can play in these nickel and dime sets that they have in the NFL. You can see where it can get to 11, but I certainly think it will get to 10. I think Josh Boutte with his workouts, he has done enough to get picked late.”