LSU keeps cranking out pro-level talent, and as the Tigers kickstarted their season with a win over Clemson, the names under the NFL’s microscope intensify. Here’s your must-know preview of the top 2026 draft prospects on campus this fall and a few players that could interest Howie Roseman and the Eagles next April!
The Players:
Offense:
QB Garrett Nussmeier
Gunslinger DNA with a fearless mindset. That volatility sometimes outweighs the command and decision-making, but he flashes NFL-level arm talent. Ball placement and pocket maturity need to improve. But his arm mechanics and ability to make every throw on the field outweigh any negatives. If he strings together a clean 2025, he’s taking a major leap. The 2nd year as the starting QB has been the year when previous QBs thrive, as seen with Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels.
RB Kaleb Jackson
Downhill juice! Jackson plays angry, finishes runs, and shows flashes of three-down utility. He’s not a burner, but he runs with NFL violence. If he handles blitz pickup and flashes hands, he will carve out a role.
WR Nic Anderson
Transferred from Oklahoma after missing 2024. He plays with plenty of vertical juice, but remains raw in his route tree. Anderson can stack corners deep but lacks nuance underneath. If he grows into a full-service receiver, he’s a day 2 guy.
WR Barion Brown
A Kentucky transfer, Brown adds a lot of extra pressure on defenses and is a Ferrari in open space. Brown is electric with the ball in his hands as a kick returner, a screen threat, and a vertical threat. Some question whether he is a full-fledged wide receiver, and scouts want to see more than just raw speed in 2025. I am excited to see him elevate his game.
WR Aaron Anderson
Alabama transfer who was once billed as a breakout slot weapon. The flashes are still there. He offers quickness, return value, and open-field wiggle, but he’s battled injuries. 2025 is make-or-break. If he stays healthy, the sky is the limit.
G Josh Thompson
A Northwestern transfer. He is a steady presence on the interior, playing with leverage and sound technique. He is bringing experience to an O-line in need. Some view Thompson as more of a glue guy than a dominant player, but I do not, and he has this season to change that perception among others. He arrived late at LSU this spring, but he has already won over the OL coaches in the film room, and he has a high floor. I am looking forward to watching him ascend this season.
Defense:
EDGE Patrick Payton
Transferred in from Florida State with long-levered explosiveness and a knack for disrupting passing lanes. Long arms, lean frame, an odd build for an edge rusher. A stronger frame will make an impact.
LB Whit Weeks
High-energy, sideline-to-sideline thumper with natural instincts but still learning the processing speed. He plays fast, sometimes too fast, and needs to harness that chaos. Processes well. He was injured in the bowl game.
LB Harold Perkins
The wildcard in LSU’s deck. When unleashed as a blitzer or off-ball rover, Perkins is a weapon. But positional identity remains murky. Some believe he is too small to be a full-time EDGE, and others that he is too raw in coverage to be a traditional linebacker. He’ll get drafted high based on traits and splash plays alone, but scheme fit will be everything. Either way, he will be LSU’s Swiss-Army defender.
https://twitter.com/PHLEagleNews/status/1961999335115145350
CB Mansoor Delane
The ceiling that Virginia Tech once promised never quite arrived, and Delane made the business decision to transfer to LSU. He has SEC-ready size and competitive toughness. He’s sometimes been feast-or-famine in press coverage, but his flashes are undeniable. He frustrated ACC wideouts, blanketed routes, and provided sticky-man coverage. He was not targeted with a high amount, but he will be tested more in 2025.
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