The clock finally ticked down to reveal where LSU football stars will begin their professional careers after the first round of the NFL Draft started Thursday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels was the first LSU player to be selected. The Washington Commanders took him as the second overall pick behind USC’s Caleb Williams, who the Chicago Bears took as the first overall pick.
Daniels was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and threw for almost 10,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards.
He started his collegiate career at Arizona State, where he started as a true freshman and ended up playing for three seasons. There, he accumulated over 6,000 passing yards and 45 total touchdowns.
Daniels then took his talents to LSU, where he played for two seasons under Brian Kelly. In his first year, he took the Tigers to a 10-win season and brought them an SEC West title.
In his second and last season at LSU, he recorded 50 total touchdowns and almost 5,000 total yards, ultimately earning him the Heisman trophy. Although his rushing abilities are a strong suit for Daniels, the hits he is bound to take during his NFL career may be a concerning factor.
The next Tiger to be selected was wide receiver Malik Nabers. The New York Giants selected him as the sixth overall pick.
Nabers broke the LSU record for career receiving yards with 3,003 yards in only three seasons. On the 2023 season, he racked up 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns.
With the twenty-third pick in the first round, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. Even behind Nabers’ as the No. 2 receiver, Thomas Jr. was known for his ability to get in the end zone. He had 17 touchdowns and almost 1,200 yards on the 2023 season.
Several more Tigers declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, including Charles Turner, Mekhi Wingo, Jordan Jefferson, Noah Cain, Andre Sam and Maason Smith. To see if they will be selected, tune into NFL Network, NFL+, ABC, ESPN or ESPN Deportes at 6 p.m. CST on April 26 for the second and third rounds.
The fourth through seventh rounds will be broadcasted on the same channels on Saturday, April 27 at 11 a.m. CST.
