Tag: Brian Thomas Jr.

Dolphins take a WR in Daniel Jeremiah’s first 2024 NFL mock draft

Miami snags LSU wideout in Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock of 2024.

The NFL playoffs continue this weekend, as the divisional round is upon us. However, for those who have already been eliminated, like the Miami Dolphins, this is a time for planning for the future.

With free agency and the 2024 NFL draft coming up, mock drafts are coming out nearly every day, and one of the most prolific mock drafters, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, has released his first for this year’s selection process.

The Dolphins are currently slated to make their selection at pick No. 21, and Jeremiah has them adding to one of their best positions and drafting LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

Here’s what Jeremiah said about the projected pick:

“Miami elects to build on a strength. I could see Thomas going much higher than 21st in the draft, but Tua Tagovailoa reaps the benefit in this scenario. Thomas gives the Dolphins some size — without sacrificing speed — alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.”

Thomas stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 198 lbs which would immediately make him the biggest wideout in Miami’s room. Erik Ezukanma (6-foot-2) is currently the tallest at the position set to return next year. Still, his future is up in the air, considering he was never cleared to play again after the discovery of a neck injury that landed him on the non-football injury list.

In three seasons with LSU, Thomas recorded 127 receptions for 1,897 yards and 24 touchdowns.

His frame would give Miami the end-zone threat that they’ve been missing, but other areas could be more pressing by the time the draft rolls around.

Three Tigers go in the first round in College Sports Wire mock draft

Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. all get selected in the first round of the draft, per this mock.

The College Wire staff recently put together a new NFL Mock Draft and three former LSU Tigers made their way into the first round of their draft. [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr[/autotag]. all get selected in the first round of the draft.

With the No. 5 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select Nabers, a wide receiver from LSU. There are a few questions surrounding the Chargers right now. We are unsure who their next head coach is going to be and what personnel he will bring in with him. One thing I know for sure is that Justin Herbert would love to have Nabers as his new wide receiver.

With the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Daniels, a quarterback from LSU. Boy, Saints fans would not be happy about this one. The Falcons need a new quarterback in a bad way because Desmond Ridder is not the guy they need under center. I would be interested to see how Daniels would perform in a Bill Belichick system.

With the 27th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select Thomas, a wide receiver from LSU. Thomas tends to get overlooked in LSU’s offense because of how successful Nabers was. Thomas led the NCAA in touchdown receptions in 2023. Kyler Murray would be glad to have Thomas as his new target.

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Brian Kelly explains why Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are playing against Wisconsin

Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are both projected to be first-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft.

[autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] are both projected to be first-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft. Even with that knowledge, both of them have agreed to play for LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers.

In a day and age where so many players are choosing to opt-out or choose to enter the transfer portal, these two guys are choosing to stay with their team and play one more game for the school that they have represented for the past four years.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was asked about why the two talented prospects decided to put themselves on the line for a bowl game. Here is what he had to say.

You have got to love the old-school mentality these two guys have shown and how they are choosing to suit up in the purple and gold one final time to try and secure a second 10-win season in a row for Kelly.

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Watching tape with Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels

Before he found that he won the 2023 Heisman Trophy, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels watched tape with Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar.

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There are those quarterback prospects who rocket up the boards in their final collegiate seasons to find themselves highly coveted by the entire NFL. We can point to Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Joe Burrow in recent years, and in the 2024 draft, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels might be the one. In four seasons with Arizona State and LSU from 2019 through 2022, he was a good player, but not necessarily a first-round prospect.

Then, 2023 happened, and that all changed. Daniels, who is currently in New York City as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which will be presented Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EST, completed 236 of 332 passes (71.1%) for 3,811 yards (11.1 YPA), 40 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a passer rating of 143.7. Add in his 1,250 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on just 65 attempts (10.4 yards per carry), and you’re dealing with a player who seems primed for franchise quarterback status at the game’s most important position.

I was able to speak to the reigning AP College Football Player of the Year on Friday, while he was chopping it up with other Heisman Finalists — Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at Raising Cane’s in New York City. Of course, Daniels did win the award on Saturday night.

(From L. to R. — 2023 Heisman Trophy finalists Michael Penix Jr., Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix work a shift at Raising Cane’s restaurant in Times Square, New York City. Mandatory Credit: Raising Cane’s

We got into one of Daniels’ best pitches — the deep fade ball. Overall this season, per Pro Football Focus, Daniels completed 35 of 55 passes of 20 or more air yards (63.6%) for 1,347 yards (a ridiculous 24.5 YPA), 22 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 146.8. Paramount among those deep throws are the boundary fades and slot fades that set defenses on edge in the NCAA, and will likely do so in the NFL, given Daniels’ timing, velocity, and accuracy on routes that usually lead to low-percentage plays.

Not in Daniels’ case.

PFF mock draft includes three Tigers

PFF has released its third iteration of a mock draft and this one includes three LSU players.

PFF has released its third iteration of a mock draft and this one includes three LSU players. Two of them are in the first round and the third one is taken with the first pick of the second round.

According to PFF, [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] will be taken with the No. 6 pick in the draft by the New York Giants. The Giants are a team that could use some playmakers, but they also need some help up front to protect Daniel Jones.

According to PFF, Heisman Trophy favorite [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] will be staying in the boot and playing for the New Orleans Saints at pick No. 9. If you have watched any Saints games this year, you know that they need a quarterback in the worst way. Derek Carr and Jameis Winston will not get the job done. This would be a great pick for them.

According to PFF, [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] will be taken with pick No. 33, the first pick of the second round, by the Carolina Panthers. With this pick, the Panthers would get a playmaker for Bryce Young to facilitate the ball too. Like the Giants, the Panthers could use some help up front as well.

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LSU lands two receivers on On3’s top 25 list

On3 has released its latest list of the top 25 wide receivers in the country after the final week of the regular season.

On3 has released its latest list of the top 25 wide receivers in the country after the final week of the regular season. Two LSU Tigers made the cut.

Both of the Tigers landed in the top 10 as [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] comes in at No. 9 on the list and Malik Nabers is at No. 2. Thomas Jr. has played in 12 games this year and has made 60 receptions for 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns. He and Nabers have created one of the best wide receiver tandems in LSU history.

Nabers has played in 12 games and made 86 receptions for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns. Nabers came in one spot behind Marvin Harrison Jr on the list. I understand Harrison Jr is a really good wide receiver but he hasn’t put up the kind of numbers that Nabers has put up and Nabers has played way better opponents.

Nabers has already stated that he will be playing in the bowl game, no matter who LSU is playing.

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2024 NFL draft: Receivers begin to emerge for Giants in several mocks

While QB still dominates most 2024 NFL mock drafts for the New York Giants, some wide receivers and O-linemen are beginning to pop up.

The New York Giants have won back-to-back games, improving their record to 4-8 on the season. Those consecutive wins have cost them potential 2024 NFL draft positioning as they are currently slated to select sixth overall.

At No. 6, the Giants are likely out of the Caleb Williams and Drake Maye sweepstakes unless general manager Joe Schoen decides to trade up.

In most early mock drafts, trades are avoided. Accordingly, projecting who the Giants select has begun to vary greatly. Some are still sticking to quarterbacks but not all — we’ve seen wide receivers and offensive linemen creep in.

Here’s a round-up of the most recent mock drafts and who they have the Giants selecting.

New 2024 mock draft misses the mark for the Steelers

Could the Steelers draft Diontae Johnson’s replacement in the 2024 NFL draft?

By the time the 2024 NFL draft comes around, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have already had to make some tough decisions. One of those could be pertaining to wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The Steelers gave Johnson a huge new contract but this season he’s really struggled with his maturity on and off the field.

In his first 2024 NFL mock draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler went a bit off script for the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 23 overall pick and we have to wonder if this isn’t somehow related to the Johnson situation.

Brugler has the Steelers selecting LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Thomas is a fast-riser in the draft and while we concede he could end up in the first round, I’m not sure this is the direction the Steelers would go. Here’s a bit of what Brugler said about the pick:

The Steelers have as good a track record drafting receivers outside the first round as anyone, but it would be tough to pass on Thomas, who has outstanding size (6-4, 205), speed and tracking skills.

Seeing Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean come off the board with the next pick stings. The Steelers are in a position where they need a cornerback and a safety for next year and DeJean’s athleticism and versatility are a perfect match for Pittsburgh.

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Brian Kelly discusses potential bowl opt outs for LSU

Malik Nabers has already stated that he will be playing in the bowl game but it remains to be seen for other players.

This is a hot topic every year. If you are a draft-eligible player with a shot at making a lot of money in the NFL draft, do you decide to sit out for your team’s bowl game?

Players like [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] are all guys who could see themselves drafted within the first two days of the next NFL Draft.

That means they have the option to forgo the bowl game and just sit out until the draft without running the risk of getting hurt. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] addressed this topic after the win over Texas A&M.

“Yeah, I’m sure some of them will have to make some decisions as to whether they think it’s in their best interest moving forward, whether they stay or go. We’ve had preliminary conversations with all of our players relative to staying for another year, leaving for the NFL, playing in the game,” Kelly said. “So we’ve got a pretty good sense of where our guys are at. And for us, it’s about information. It’s about making that they making sure they make the best decision for themselves and for their future. So we’re going to be in good shape. No matter what happens, regardless of who the player is. So, again, I think we’ve done a pretty good job. We’ll do some more meetings this week. We’ll have exit interviews with all of our players, and then probably have even a stronger feeling about where our players are at relative to the next step.”

Nabers has already stated that he will be playing in the bowl game but it remains to be seen for other players.

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Brian Kelly comments on Kyren Lacy’s development this season

Kyren Lacy had a great game against the Georgia State Panthers last Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

[autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] had a great game against the Georgia State Panthers last Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

All of the talk this season has been around [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] Deservedly so, as those two guys have put up numbers like [autotag]Ja’Marr Chase[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Jefferson[/autotag] in 2019. Nabers is the No. 1 wide receiver in the country and Thomas leads the country in receiving touchdowns with 14.

Lost in that shuffle is Louisiana transfer [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag]. Lacy lines up at the slot receiver position but he can be just as effective as Nabers and Thomas Jr. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was asked his thoughts on Lacy after the game.

“He’s a very capable wide receiver, and his role has been one where he’s going to get his chances because there’s so much attention paid to those other two receivers that many times he gets the one-on-one matchups, and he’s an outstanding receiver and he’s the beneficiary,” Kelly said. “That itself I think has allowed him to not be frustrated, because he knows when he gets his chances they’re going to be big plays.

With Nabers and Thomas likely leaving after this season, Lacy could see himself in a bigger role next year.

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