The 2022 NFL draft is finally into the books, but it’s never to early for the Draft Media Industrial Complex to turn its attention to next year’s class of players.
LSU only had one player picked in the first round this year in [autotag]Derek Stingley Jr.[/autotag], who was taken third by the Houston Texans, but the Tigers had 10 players selected in total, not bad for a draft class that was deemed to be below the program’s standards.
Heading into next year’s class, LSU should have a stronger NFL contingent following the first season under new coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], and in the post-draft 2023 mock from 247Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer, two LSU players are taken in the first round.
The most notable is receiver [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag], who could be set for one of the top pass-catching campaigns in college football. Brockermeyer has him heading to the Minnesota Vikings with the 14th pick, pairing him up with another former LSU wideout in [autotag]Justin Jefferson[/autotag].
Kayshon Boutte’s true sophomore season ended early in 2021, but not before Boutte proved that his freshman season was not a fluke. Boutte looks ready to play in the NFL now and has all the tools to follow in the footsteps of some of the LSU wide receiver greats. Adam Thielen’s getting up there in age and this helps Minnesota replenish its receiving corps with a Bayou partner for Justin Jefferson.
Boutte was in for a wildly productive season before an injury ended his year after just six games. He still finished with more than 500 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the team.
Another player who could be poised for a breakout season is junior edge rusher [autotag]B.J. Ojulari[/autotag]. He has 11 sacks in two years with the Tigers, seven of which came in 2021. He should be a leader of the defense this season, especially with all of the losses it took during the offseason, and he’s heading to the Tennessee Titans at No. 19.
BJ Ojulari is an important piece to perhaps one of the deepest and most talented defensive lines west of Clemson. Ojulari has all the traits to dominate and is a difference-maker up front for the Tigers. The Titans are trying to win up front what with Jeffery Simmons and Harold Landry, and Ojulari is another piece to throw in there and keep the energy young.
Former LSU cornerback Eli Ricks, who transferred to Alabama, is also projected as a first-round pick next year.
It’s hard to know exactly how high the ceiling is for this pair of Tigers players, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising for them to hear their names called during the first night of the draft this time next year.
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