LSU NFL Draft Recap

Zach Nunez • April 26, 2026
NFL Draft slides are fairly common for individual players. Shedur Sanders, Aaron Rodgers, Brady Quinn, Laremy Tunsil, Maurice Hurst Jr., and Jake Butt all serve as examples from my conscious lifetime that highlight large draft slides for one reason or another. I cannot, however, remember numerous players from a single team falling as much as this year’s crop of LSU draftees did in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Granted, the 2025 Tigers finished 7-6, but it did not seem like anyone doubted the talent of LSU (outside of the offensive line) until the draft rolled around this year. Watching this crop of Tiger talent slide as much as they did, to put it lightly, felt like Christmas as a kid. You enjoy some family time and smaller gifts on Christmas Eve, but the real excitement waits for Christmas morning. The problem is you struggle to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, knowing Santa will not come until you do. You toss and turn, pleading for morning to arrive, but no matter what you try, sleep will not come. Eventually exhaustion wins, you drift off, and you wake up to the good stuff. The whole process drags on far longer than it should.

To continue with the comparison, here is my recap and analysis of the gifts:
Round 1, Pick 6: CB Mansoor Delane to the Kansas City Chiefs
2025 Stats: 45 total tackles, 28 solo, 11 PBUs, 2 INTs; First-Team All-SEC, Unanimous All-American.
In the predraft process, I highlighted the Saints, Commanders, Chiefs, and Rams as the best fits and most likely landing spots for Delane. An elite talent in the secondary like Delane was never going to make it past No. 13 after being a unanimous All-American. With corner needs for three of those four teams built to compete in 2026, it felt like no matter where he went, he would be set up in a good system. Ultimately, after trading Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles, Kansas City traded up ahead of New Orleans and Washington, from pick No. 9 to No. 6, and drafted Delane to likely be their CB1 of the future. This is a great fit for Delane, as he will not only make top-10 pick money but will also be in the Super Bowl picture as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center. Delane will certainly face some challenges, though, as Kansas City will see quite a few high-powered offenses. As Saints fans are well aware, Steve Spagnuolo’s blitz scheme can occasionally leave defensive backs on an island. Delane, being as talented and hungry as he is, should be willing and able to stand up to the challenge of facing numerous high-powered offenses in the regular season and what feels like an inevitable postseason matchup with the Bills.

Round 3, Pick 14 (78 overall): S A.J. Haulcy to the Indianapolis Colts
2025 Stats: 49 total tackles, 39 solo, 0.5 TFL, 4 PBUs, 1 FF, 3 INTs; First-Team All-SEC, First-Team All-American.
Admittedly, Indy wasn’t on my radar for A.J. Haulcy, but you have to love how much they are investing in the secondary. Pairing Haulcy with the likes of Sauce Gardner, the Colts’ pseudo first-rounder, should be fun to watch for years to come. Haulcy should transition well to Lou Anarumo’s defense, as it plays more of a week-to-week, adaptive style that should suit Haulcy’s mixed skill set of run-stopping and ball-hawking. Haulcy should get ample opportunity to get on the field in 2026 and make an immediate impact on a Colts team that looked playoff-bound until the injury to Daniel Jones.

Round 3, Pick 25 (89 overall): WR Zavion Thomas to the Chicago Bears
2025 Stats: 41 rec., 488 yds., 4 TDs; 19 rush, 99 yds., 1 TD; 18 PR for 153 yds.; 1 KR for 22 yds.
Because Chicago took Thomas fairly ahead of his projection, I did not get the chance to put out my best fits for him. You can point to the 4.28 40 at the combine as a reason for the rise in stock. While I do love the idea of Caleb Williams throwing to Zavion Thomas, I will be curious to see where Thomas factors into a WR room that has other young, highly drafted players like Rome Odunze (2024 first-rounder), Luther Burden (2025 second-rounder), and Kalif Raymond, who, having come to Chicago from Detroit, has a good bit of familiarity with head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson, being the scheme guru he is, will surely find ways to incorporate Thomas into the offense, and he will have a chance to be the punt and kick returner for the Bears. Johnson’s offenses often use well-designed motion concepts, which should be a seamless transition for Thomas, considering that is how he was often utilized in the 2025 LSU offense.

Round 6, Pick 4 (185 overall): TE Bauer Sharp to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2025 Stats: 24 rec., 252 yds., 8 TDs.
Due to his history as a QB at Southeastern, my ideal spot for Bauer Sharp would have been Denver, just to see Sean Payton try to recreate the magic he had with Taysom Hill in New Orleans. Despite not getting running back snaps, Sharp reminds me more of Hill than I (and I’m sure many others) would like to admit, obviously just a tad slower. I did, however, have Tampa on my list for how they usually seem to have some success scouting and developing talent at the tight end position. He was and is a work in progress, being relatively new to the position. Sharp will have time to hone his skills behind Cade Otton and potentially compete for a TE2 or TE3 role. Sharp may not get that starting role in 2026, but as the NFL shifts further toward more 12-personnel year by year, if he competes well in camp and the preseason, he could find himself on the field a decent amount.

Round 6, Pick 9 (190 overall): WR Barion Brown to the New Orleans Saints
2025 Stats: 53 rec., 532 yds., 1 TD; 3 rush, 33 yds.; 1 PR for 6 yds.; 15 KR for 445 yds., 1 TD.
For the first time since 2018, when New Orleans selected offensive lineman Will Clapp, the Saints have drafted an LSU Tiger. Saints GM Mickey Loomis even played into the joke in his post-draft press conference, saying, “I didn’t trade up, and I took an LSU player so there shouldn’t be any questions.” I’ll start with the bad here: The Saints used a first-round pick on Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson and a fourth-round pick on North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance. Add to that Chris Olave, Ja’Lynn Polk, Trey Palmer, and other veterans, and New Orleans has a crowded WR room. Brown will have to scratch and claw for every snap on offense, which, having seen it in flashes at LSU, he is capable of working his way into the rotation. Brown will, however, provide second-year QB Tyler Shough with another option to stretch the defense downfield with his 4.40 speed. Where Brown will make the biggest impact early on in New Orleans is in the return game, and he should provide a much-needed spark, as he has three times the number of return touchdowns in college as the Saints do in the same time frame (six to two).

Round 6, Pick 34 (215 overall): LB/Edge Harold Perkins Jr. to the Atlanta Falcons
2025 Stats: 55 total tackles, 26 solo, 8 TFLs, 3 PBUs, 4 sacks, 1 FF, 3 INTs; Third-Team All-SEC.
As the trending topic around Harold Perkins Jr. during the draft was something along the lines of, “If you told me during his freshman year that Perk would get drafted in the sixth round, I would never have believed you.” His production (likely due to injuries) had fallen off at LSU year over year, but the talent was never deniable. Everyone knew he could be an absolute game-wrecker. This is what made his fall from projection to actual draft slot surprising. What did not make it surprising was the ever-looming question around him from the very beginning: “What position does he actually play in the NFL?” LB? Edge rusher? Star? I think the answer is still unclear. What is clear is that if you put Harold Perkins on the field, he is going to make plays. That is why the Atlanta Falcons took him. Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich will find a spot for him, more than likely filling the hole left by former (and once again current) New Orleans Saint Kaden Elliss, who I can see as a very similar style of player. Another avenue to consider for Perkins is that Falcons 2025 first-rounder James Pearce Jr. has found himself involved in some legal trouble, so Perkins could potentially fill that role on the edge if the legal processes linger. The knock on Perkins as an edge was always his size, but with his 4.38 40 speed, I can almost guarantee that offensive tackles will have a hard time containing him. Whatever role Perkins finds himself in for Atlanta, he will make plays.

Round 7, Pick 33 (249 overall): QB Garrett Nussmeier to the Kansas City Chiefs
2025 Stats: 194-288, 67.4 completion %, 1,927 yds., 12 TDs, 5 INTs, 133.8 rating.
I really should have just put his 2024 stats up there, but I had to stick to the formula I had been using, because the past 365 days for Garrett Nussmeier in terms of his football career could not have gone much worse. Injuries and poor offensive play-calling derailed what could have been an early first-round draft pick for Nussmeier. The abdominal/oblique injury that greatly hindered his performance was followed by his benching for said injury, only to find out there was a cyst on his spine making the pain worse. Even with the pain continuously subsiding and Nussmeier seemingly finding his form again in the predraft process, and a 2-3 week recovery time if surgery were deemed necessary to remove the cyst, teams still did not want to spend a pick on the LSU signal-caller until Andy Reid agreed to take the project in the seventh round. A once first-round prospect a year ago, to likely a Day 2 guy a few weeks ago, dropped all the way to the seventh round. Ideally, I would have liked to see Nussmeier get drafted by a team like Pittsburgh, Arizona, Minnesota, or Indianapolis, who may have more QB questions than answers, somewhere he could compete for the starting job from Day 1. Unfortunately, that was not the case, but the bright side to not being in a QB room where he can win the starting job (because let’s be honest, no one in the world is going to take the starting job from Patrick Mahomes) is that he will get to learn under Andy Reid, one of the best offensive minds in football, and from Mahomes, who profiles in a similar gunslinger mold as Nussmeier. The best thing he can do now is learn, develop, show out when he gets the chance, and maybe see his trade value spike so someone will take a chance on him.

Undrafted Free Agent Tracker and a Few Quick Notes
WR Aaron Anderson signs with the Cleveland Browns — Not a bad landing spot. Cleveland needed some help at receiver, but he will have to fight his way up the depth chart.
WR Chris Hilton Jr. signs with the Washington Commanders — Really like this for Hilton. Reunite with Jayden Daniels and stay healthy. The Commanders’ WR room outside of Terry McLaurin is not really lighting the world on fire. Some potential to make some noise.
EDGE Jack Pyburn signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Nice to see him return to his home state. Familiarity with 3-4 defense. May carve his path as a special teams contributor with the occasional defensive snap early on.
DT Bernard Gooden signs with the Cleveland Browns — Quite a few former UDFA guys would be ahead of him on the depth chart going into the preseason, but if he returns to his form from USF, he could make some noise.
LB West Weeks signs with the Indianapolis Colts — Decent spot for him. Zone-heavy defense. Has his work cut out for him in terms of rising up the depth chart, but he can earn his spot on special teams.
IOL Josh Thompson signs with the Kansas City Chiefs — Following Nuss to KC. They need all the competition on the OL they can get to make sure they are keeping Mahomes healthy after last year.
DT Jacobian Guillory signs with the Los Angeles Chargers — Was a really good prospect coming out of high school. I know many players are, but I still see the vision with him. The 3-4 system does not offer a clear path, but like I said, I still see the vision.
Unsigned:
Edge Patrick Payton
Edge Jimari Butler
K Damian Ramos

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By Auston Taylor July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.
By Kaden Arkeder July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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