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
A quick share helps us a lot!
LAST WEEK WAS A STATEMENT: Tulane Green Wave Recruiting Just Went Nuclear, Camp Fire plus 10 Commitments in One Day! Signals 2027 Takeover Last week the Tulane Green Wave didn’t just recruit, they declared war on the rest of the American Conference and anyone sleeping on Will Hall’s vision. From a loaded summer camp at Yulman Stadium that produced four scholarship offers (and one lightning-fast commitment) to an unprecedented 10 commitments in a single day fueled by official visits, the momentum is undeniable. The 2027 class is stacking up fast, in-state pride is surging, and the Green Wave are turning heads from the River Parishes to the Mississippi hills and beyond. The Camp That Lit the Fuse: June 3 at Yulman Stadium Dozens of hungry prospects rolled into New Orleans for Tulane’s key summer camp session (part of the June 7/10/17 series). Position-specific drills, one-on-ones, and 7-on-7s under Head Coach Will Hall and staff. The vibe and videos were electric, real coaching, real competition, real exposure. Four prospects stood out above the rest and earned scholarship offers from Tulane: • Shaun Phillips @phillips1shaun (Class of 2029, OL, The Dunham School – Houma area) 6’5”, 285 lbs. The massive tackle with rare length and power moved bodies in the run game and showed surprising agility in pass pro. First collegiate offer. High-upside developmental piece with All-Conference ceiling. • James Tyson @Jetyson28 (Class of 2027, DB, St. Charles Catholic – LaPlace, LA) 6’0”, 180 lbs athletic build. Fluid hips, ball skills, physicality in run support, and the ability to win 1-on-1s consistently. Turned heads all day and left with an offer on the spot. • Jayden Taylor @the_jtaylor72 (Class of 2028, OL, St. Augustine HS – New Orleans) 6’4”, 255 lbs. Physical “bully” left tackle who dominated the trenches with heavy hands, strong base, and leadership. Proven camp performer who brings nastiness and versatility (tackle or inside). • Jaden Turner @jaden_1of1 Class of 2029 DB John Curtis New Orleans, LA 6’0”, 165 lbs (High-character, physical player who rounded out a strong group of trench and defensive standouts.) The payoff came quick. Just days later, camp standout James Tyson committed to the Green Wave! The rising River Parishes DB chose Tulane over Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Nicholls, Cornell, and others. He’s already locked in an official visit for June 18. Local kid. Camp-to-commit pipeline working perfectly. Starter upside in a secondary that values length, athleticism, and versatility. Friday Explosion: 10 Commitments in ONE DAY The staff didn’t let the momentum cool. On Friday, Tulane secured a massive 10 commitments in a single day, one of the biggest single-day hauls in recent program history. Many tied directly to official visits over the weekend. Prospects saw the vision, felt the culture, and pulled the trigger. The haul added serious talent and depth across positions, with a strong mix of in-state gems and regional athletes who fit Will Hall’s up-tempo, physical identity: Key names in the surge include: • Local star Ray’Quan Williams (WR, St. Augustine HS, New Orleans) New Orleans product bolstering the receiving room. @supermanray3 • Kavarris “Duke” Duncan (DL, Winterboro HS, AL) @KavarrisDuncan • Teddy Graff (TE, Ensworth HS, Nashville, TN) @teddy_graff • Peyton Perkins (ATH, Eupora, MS) @PPerkins_12 • Anquan Jackson (WR, South Jones HS, Ellisville, MS) @anquan_jackson5 • Jackson Shaw (OT, Baton Rouge Catholic, LA) @JacksonShaw40 • And the camp-to-commit pipeline delivering again with James Tyson (DB) Plus several more athletic, high-motor pieces rounding out what’s shaping into a well-balanced, high-upside group. Director of Scouting Colton Leggett summed it up perfectly: “Make it commits in one day. Just recruit good players. #RollWave #PA2TYUP7OWN ” This wasn’t luck. It’s targeted in-state work, smart regional recruiting, relationship building, and a coaching staff that’s earning trust with prospects and families. Louisiana kids staying home or choosing the Wave. Mississippi and Alabama talent seeing the bigger picture. Developmental upside everywhere. The Big Picture, Momentum Is Real Last week proved it: Tulane is building something special. The 2027 class is no longer just “growing” it’s exploding with the right kind of players who fit the culture, the scheme, and the vision of sustained success in the American Conference. In-state dominance + regional hauls + camp-to-commit efficiency = a recipe that’s working. Yulman Stadium is about to get louder. The trenches are getting nastier. The secondary is getting more athletic. The skill positions are gaining weapons. Will Hall and staff are hitting their stride. The future is loading. More Pats Deep Dive Recruiting breakdowns, player profiles, and updates dropping soon. The Green Wave are rising. #RollWave #RMFW Stay locked @beinthekneaux for the latest. Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
The Tulane Green Wave football program turned heads on Friday with a massive recruiting surge, landing 10 commitments in a single day. The haul represents one of the strongest single-day performances in recent memory for the program and signals growing momentum for the 2027 recruiting class under head coach Will Hall. Director of Scouting Colton Leggett captured the excitement perfectly, posting: “Make it commits in one day. Just recruit good players. #RollWave #PA2TYUP7OWN ” The Green Wave staff is hitting its stride in identifying and closing on talent that fits the program’s culture and up-tempo, physical identity. While full details on the newest members of the class are still rolling in, the volume of commitments speaks volumes about Tulane’s rising profile. The Green Wave have steadily built their 2027 group through targeted in-state and regional recruiting, smart use of the transfer portal, and a coaching staff that’s earning trust with prospects and their families. More details on the commitments coming soon! #RMFW Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X