In the 2026 NFL Draft, seven former LSU Tigers began their life-long dream of making it to the NFL.
The first LSU Tiger drafted is by far the highest-rated prospect that LSU had coming into the draft. It is none other than cornerback Mansoor Delane.
With the sixth overall pick the Kansas City Chiefs selected Delane, a unanimous All-American, first-team All-SEC selection, and a Jim Thorpe finalist in 2025. Delane recorded 13 passes defended and two interceptions this past season. He also allowed zero touchdowns, and he didn’t commit a single penalty all season. Delane was the best corner in college football last season. He was the first taken in the draft.
Skipping over to the third round, two former Tigers were drafted: safety A.J. Haulcy and wide receiver Zavion Thomas. Haulcy was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 79th pick, and Thomas was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 89th pick.
Haulcy led the Tigers in tackles this past season with 89, and he earned a first-team All-SEC selection. Haulcy will be able to show his ball-hawk ability and versatility at the next level.
Thomas ran the third-fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine with a 4.28. He is a very raw prospect, but Thomas will definitely be able to contribute immediately as a return specialist.
In the sixth round, three more LSU Tigers were drafted: tight end Bauer Sharp, wide receiver Barion Brown, and linebacker Harold Perkins Jr.
Sharp was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 185th pick, Brown stays in Louisiana as the New Orleans Saints selected him with the 190th pick, and Perkins was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 215th pick.
Sharp recorded 24 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns this past season for the Tigers. Sharp is a big blocking tight end who will help the Buccaneers whenever they call his number.
Brown holds the SEC record for most kick returns brought back for touchdowns with 6. The Saints are getting a player who has elite top speed, and he can always be a threat on special teams.
Perkins was most effective as a Tiger his freshman season, receiving Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC. He was also awarded SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice. This past season Perkins received Third-Team All-SEC, and he has been wearing the legendary number seven, which is given to an elite playmaker on LSU’s roster. In his final season, Perkins recorded eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and three interceptions.
The Falcons are getting an aggressive athlete in Perkins. He sometimes may be too aggressive for his own good, and he definitely plays better with another elite linebacker by his side. But he is, without a doubt, one of the best athletes in the draft, and he is ready to prove why he should not have fallen to the sixth round.
The last LSU Tiger taken in the 2026 NFL Draft was the one who ran the show for the first nine games of the season. It is none other than quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Nussmeier was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 249th pick in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
Nussmeier was a projected first-round pick and Heisman candidate going into the 2025 college football season, but due to playing through injury all season, he fell to the seventh round. It’s not where he wants to be, but he still has the tools to make an impact in this league.
Nussmeier has a cannon for an arm, and even though his stats of 12 touchdowns and five interceptions in nine games played are underwhelming. He showed promise in 2024 when he led LSU to a 9-4 record while throwing 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Nussmeier has shown that he can be a good quarterback.
Nussmeier is coming into a talented quarterback room. Starting with arguably the best player in the NFL Patrick Mahomes, and Justin Fields who has bounced around a few teams in his career. But he definitely just won’t let his spot get taken. Nussmeier has a challenge in front of him, but only he can control his own destiny.
As this year’s NFL Draft comes to an end, time will tell which NFLSU Tiger will have the best career playing in the league.
