LSU’s top players became sought-after prospects due to the offensive team’s dominance in the previous season. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Brian Thomas, Malik Nabers, and Jayden Daniels were all selected in the first round. It was inevitable that they would hear their names called early, but they were unsure of the precise location of their next game.
On Thursday night in Detroit, during a first round stacked with offensive talent, their months-long wait came to an end one by one. Daniels finished behind the Washington Commanders overall. The New York Giants selected Nabers with their sixth pick. Thomas was later selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars at overall No. 23.
Fueling one of the strongest offenses in program history, the trio’s high draft picks cemented their spots in LSU history. In the first round, LSU had the same number of picks as Alabama and Washington.
For the fourth time in the common era, LSU generated three or more first-round picks in a single draft. A school record five players were selected in the 2020 and four in the 2007 drafts. In 2017, three players were also chosen in the first round.
Heisman Trophy winner Daniels made history by being the fifth LSU quarterback taken in the first round. He became friends with Joe Burrow (2020), JaMarcus Russell (2007), Bert Jones (1973), and Y.A. Tittle (1948, 1951).
Thanks to Daniels, LSU became the first team since the common era began in 1967 to have four quarterbacks taken in the top 3. Now, five of the last six drafts have had an LSU player in the top five, with Daniels being the highest-drafted player in head coach Brian Kelly’s tenure.
Daniels remarked, “I’m just coming to compete.” “I’m attempting to enter and fulfill my position, whatever it may be. All I want is to be the best teammate possible so that we can win and have fun while returning some victories to D.C. and the DMV.
Four spots later, Nabers scored a touchdown, and LSU created more history.
In NFL history, the Tigers were the first team to have a quarterback and wide receiver selected in the top 10 of the same draft. Quarterback Michael Penix and wide receiver Rome Odunze were selected, with Penix going to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 and Odunze to the Chicago Bears at No. 9. Soon after, the Washington Huskies were added.
The first round’s fundamental idea was embodied in that statistic. For the first time since 1983, six quarterbacks were chosen, with a record five of them in the top 10, and 23 offensive players were chosen.
