As we prepare to tie a bow on the 2023 season with LSU’s ReliaQuest Bowl matchup against Wisconsin, we will soon be turning our attention to what could be an eventful 2024 NFL draft for former Tigers.
A trio of offensive stars could hear their names called on the first night of the draft in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] And in the latest mock draft from ESPN’s Matt Miller, all three are projected as first-round picks.
Daniels, who has seen his draft stock skyrocket after a Heisman-winning season, is projected to go the highest with the fourth pick to the New York Giants.
Is this too early for Daniels, even after his brilliant Heisman-winning 2023 season? Maybe, but teams will overdraft at quarterback in an effort to find the right player, and Daniels’ dual-threat ability and vertical passing traits are very intriguing. His 50 total touchdowns this season make him a first-round candidate, but it’s Daniels’ improvement in the pocket and the best deep ball in college football that will truly turn heads come draft time.
The Giants are invested financially in Daniel Jones, but his play simply hasn’t been good enough, and New York can move on via a trade. His 38.4 QBR ranks 25th in the NFL, and his season is over with a torn ACL. Daniels’ 95.7, meanwhile, leads the FBS. And sure, undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito has been a fun story, leading the Giants to three straight wins. But his QBR on the season? It’s even worse than Jones’ at 26.2.
He’s joined in the top 10 by Nabers, who is projected to go eighth to the Chicago Bears.
The Bears have receiver DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet, but with Darnell Mooney struggling to develop into a consistent threat and set to hit free agency, they could stand to add more options — especially if they are taking a rookie quarterback in Williams at No. 1. Nabers is the most explosive after-the-catch receiver in the draft — he averages 6.8 yards after the catch per reception — and I like to compare him to Stefon Diggs. You might wonder about a left tackle here, but I’m a believer in second-year player Braxton Jones, so Chicago would be wise to go receiver at No. 8.
Both Daniels and Nabers look like sure-fire first-rounders, but Thomas may be a bigger question mark. He’s not viewed as a first-round prospect in all mocks, but Miller has him sneaking in at No. 26 to the Detroit Lions.
The Lions drafted a running back (Jahmyr Gibbs) and linebacker (Jack Campbell) in Round 1 back in April, but let’s get them back to adding premium positions with early picks with a talented wide receiver. Thomas can play opposite Amon-Ra St. Brown as a 6-foot-4 red-zone target. He has 60 catches — with15 scores — while averaging 18 yards per reception this season, and he’d be a physical mismatch for Jared Goff and the offense.
After a prolific season for LSU, it could be set to deliver one of the top offensive draft classes from any school in the nation.
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