Every year, a slew of LSU football players leaves Baton Rouge and makes its way to the NFL. With the first round of the NFL draft starting at 7 p.m. tonight and subsequent rounds continuing until Saturday, here’s a list of Tigers sure to make a splash in this year’s draft class:
Barkevious Mingo, defensive end/outside linebacker
Mingo was relatively undersized for a defensive end at the college level, meaning his switch to the 3-4 outside linebacker position is likely imminent, but Mingo is one of those physical freaks — on the field and at the combine — with a natural skill set almost too tantalizing to pass up.
Gone are the days when Mingo could blaze by a slower offensive tackle or use his speed to bait him outside before making a decisive cut upfield to get to the quarterback. Mingo will still be fearsome when he puts his hand on the ground as a rush end, but modern-day NFL tackles can make up for a disadvantage because of athleticism with proper technique.
The biggest challenge for Mingo will be learning coverage schemes. I have no doubt he will beef up his 241-pound frame once he begins an NFL strength and conditioning program, but the 3-4 outside linebacker is not just a pass rusher. He will be called upon to cover tight ends and running backs in some instances, and that’s something we haven’t seen Mingo do.
Mock drafts have Mingo all over the board, but I don’t see him sneaking into the top 10 or falling past pick 20. I know quite a few locals are hoping New Orleans will split the difference and snag Mingo at 15.
Sam Montgomery, defensive end
Some NFL general managers and owners were put off when Montgomery acknowledged playing down to his competition at LSU, and his draft stock has plummeted since he uttered those words two months ago.
For a league that grades its incoming players on how fast they can run 40 yards or how high they can jump, the NFL sure puts a lot of weight on words.
Either way you slice it, Montgomery is a game changer. He’s long, strong and explosive, and his emotional leadership is dynamic and often contagious. While motivation and effort may be a concern, I’m not sure how Montgomery — or any athlete, for that matter — could give less than 100 percent when suiting up for a professional team.
Draft experts have Montgomery sliding to a late second or early third round pick. He isn’t at the top of the defensive end pool because of studs like Florida State’s Bjoern Werner and BYU’s Ezekiel Ansah, but any team should be more than happy picking up Montgomery in the second round.
Eric Reid, safety
Reid is one of the smartest players entering this year’s draft, which is why he’ll quickly be one of the most successful. Reid should have little to no trouble adjusting to a professional scheme, allowing his raw ability to flourish.
The junior also has a knack for diagnosing and closing in on running plays with impeccable speed, and he’s a menace to receivers running crossing patterns. But his coverage skills have been suspect at times, even against North Texas.
Reid brings a nearly complete package of size, athleticism, toughness and smarts that should make him a first round pick.
Kevin Minter, inside linebacker
Minter was the surprise superstar on an LSU defense filled with studs like Mingo, Montgomery and Reid. While the statistical production of his teammates stagnated in 2012, Minter burst onto the scene, racking up 130 tackles and a team-leading 15 tackles for loss en route to a Second Team All-American nomination.
At times, Minter seemed to be making a tackle on every play. Though his coverage skills and speed are questionable, Minter’s aggressiveness and physicality in stopping the run make him a late first to early second rounder.
Tharold Simon, cornerback
The junior cornerback made a mistake opting out of his senior year.
Simon, who stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs around 200 pounds, has definitely caught some attention because of his stature. But Simon plays a timid press, is susceptible to double moves and still seems a little too big for his body.
Larger cornerbacks are becoming a necessity to counter the new breed of gigantic receivers like Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald and Detroit’s Calvin Johnson, but I’m sure most franchises would rather a smaller defender with sound technique than a massive cornerback tripping over his own feet.
Simon is a project player and should be off the board by the sixth round. Should he correct his technique and live up to his potential, Simon could rival fellow LSU alums Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne.
Tyrann Mathieu, cornerback
Love him or hate him, the Honey Badger is going to get drafted. But those attending Mathieu’s first round draft party will be highly disappointed.
Substance abuse and character issues aside, Mathieu is a risky pick. He is undoubtedly undersized at 5-foot-9 — which is a generous measurement — and simply cannot cover the monstrous tight ends and receivers in today’s game.
If Mathieu wants to crack a starting lineup, he’ll have to make the switch to safety. He’s an absolute ball hawk and has a penchant for creating turnovers, and any defensive coordinator worth his salt would give Mathieu freedom to roam around and make plays like he did at LSU.
Even if Mathieu never plays a snap on defense, he’s a valuable asset in the return game. I see him going off the board somewhere in the fourth round, but he’ll be a gamble regardless of when his name is called.
