The 2024 NFL draft is set to take place from April 25 until April 27 in Detroit, MI, and while we’re unlikely to see too dominant a showing from former LSU Tigers, there won’t exactly be a shortage of representation from the Boot. Led by star wide receiver Malik Nabers, the purple and gold have eight players listed among the top-300 prospects with a chance to have even more drafted.
2024 NFL draft: Wide receiver Malik Nabers leads the way for LSU
And so the debate rages on. Since the end of the 2024 college football season, many college and NFL fans have spent a large sum of time debating who the best wide receiver prospect is heading into the upcoming draft.
For many, the obvious choice is Marvin Harrison Jr out of Ohio State. Not only does he have the name recognition, but standing at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds with some of the best body control in the entire country, he’s viewed as a nearly perfect prospect.
However, increasingly people are beginning to view Malik Nabers as the man to beat. Not only does the 6-foot, 200-pound LSU wide receiver have some of the best speed in the entire draft, but having led the country in receiving yards in 2023, little to no one compares from a playmaking standpoint.
According to PFF, the two are essentially 1A and 1B as far as NFL pass catching prospects go. Marvin Harrison Jr currently sits at No. 2 overall, while Nabers isn’t far behind, landing at No. 4, just two slots below the former Buckeye.
Three other offensive superstars are ready to make the jump to the next level
Important to note, not only was Malik Nabers one of the best playmakers in the entire country, but one of the best playmakers on the best offense in college football.
Along with the star wide receiver, three other LSU offensive stars are being looked at as top-300 NFL prospects. Among the three, quarterback Jayden Daniels is the highest, landing at No. 22 nationally.
Interestingly enough, despite the low ranking, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner is being mocked as a lock for the first round, often being predicted within the top-three overall.
Numbers three and four on offense are wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr and offensive lineman Charles Turner, both of which are widely being compared among the best players within their position group.
Thomas Jr, who led the country in touchdown receptions this past season is also being viewed as a likely first rounder, with PFF ranking him at No. 27 overall, while Charles Turner is the lowest ranked of the four, landing at No. 283.
Don’t forget about the defensive side of the ball
While offense was far and away the star of the show in 2023 for coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers, LSU has plenty to show off on the defensive side of the ball when it comes to the 2024 NFL draft in April.
With an impressive three defensive linemen listed within PFF’s top-200 players, the NFL is gaining some impressive talents, while the purple and gold are unfortunately struggling for depth at the same position heading into the new season.
As we stand today, Mekhi Wingo is ranked the highest among Tiger defenders at No. 142 overall, while Maason Smith isn’t far behind at No. 144.
To close things out on the defensive line, former transfer portal addition Jordan Jefferson, one of the best run stoppers in college football this past season, is at No. 185.
Notably, despite struggling to stay on the field in 2023, linebacker Omar Speights was also listed in the top-300, landing at No. 300 exactly. The former Oregon State Beaver recorded an impressive 378 tackles over the course of his five year career.
It’s important to note that these numbers are nowhere near finalized, as LSU still has its Pro Day coming up on March 27. This will not only be the first opportunity for scouts to get a close look at Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers, but it will also be an opportunity for the players to continue boosting their stock with just under a month remaining until the draft.
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