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On Thursday April 25th in Detroit Rock City, another banner NFL Draft day was enjoyed by LSU's 2023 offensive power trio, Heisman winning QB Jayden Daniels selected 2nd overall by Washington, followed by the nation's leading receiver & program record holder WR Malik Nabers selected 6th overall by the New York Giants, and last but not least one bit, college football's leader in touchdown receptions Brian Thomas Jr taken 23rd overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Once again, these three special Tigers made history in multiple ways on the opening night of the 2024 NFL Draft:
With Daniels & Nabers getting picked inside the first 6 selections, LSU became the first school to see a QB and WR duo drafted together inside the top 10 in the common Draft era.
When Thomas joined the pair as a 1st round pick, it was just the 3rd time in program history the Tigers had three offensive players picked in the 1st round (2007 and 2020).
After Daniels became Washington's new franchise leader at QB, LSU became the first school to have 5 quarterbacks selected inside the top three picks (4 in the common Draft era), with Jayden joining an elite list of college football legends (Joe Burrow, JaMarcus Russell, Bert Jones, and Y.A Tittle, selected 1st, 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively).
In only 2 seasons at LSU, Daniels guided LSU to 20 wins and a berth in the SEC Championship Game in 2022.
As a senior last fall, he led the nation in several categories, including total offense (412.2), points responsible for-per game (25.2), rushing yards by a QB (1,134), as well as a ridiculous yards per play stat (10.71). He also led the nation in passer rating at 208.0, a mark which ranks the highest in FBS history.
“I’m ready to get to work,” Daniels told Washington fans from the press microphones, “Washington is going to get everything out of me....as a competitor, a hard worker. I can’t wait to get there and meet my new teammates.”
In desperate search for a franchise quarterback, a young, hungry leader who can arrive ready to compete his ass off, drag his team to victory in flashy or ugly ways respectively, whatever it takes to win, JD5 is equipped to do it all and then some....frankly, we've only been able to see just two regular seasons and one full offseason at LSU, yet he developed at an astonishing rate from 2022-2023, becoming the complete dual threat quarterback for the modern game.
The former LSU & Arizona State signal caller signed a 4 year deal with $37.7 million dollars all guaranteed, topped off by a 24.2 million dollar signing bonus & a 5th year option in 2028....which, by that time, this deal could look like a massive bargain.
Don't be stunned if Jayden Daniels remains at the top of the NFL quarterback heap for the next decade and a half, with Washington fans believing for the first time since RGIII's rookie campaign in D.C.
Let's hope Washington studied and learned from every single grave mistake they made in handling RGIII, a quarterback with much of the same athletic profile as Daniels, because if managed correctly and surrounded with superior talent on each flank & stellar protection up front, the now former LSU Heisman winner could reign supreme over the NFL someday very soon.
And what's crazy???
JD5 will square off against his teammate & close friend Malik Nabers as divisional rivals twice a season, at a minimum, with Nabers now in New York.
Nabers was highly coveted by the Giants, and they overlooked a bevy of available quarterbacks and other top prospects at positions of need for the ultimate playmaking package.
As LSU's well known institution of WRU has become firmly established & ingrained over the years, Malik will have plenty of expectations upon his shoulders, not only the obvious OBJ comparisons due to Beckham's prior run in the Big Apple, but the shadows of every big time WRU representative...Malik will constantly be compared or contrasted against Jefferson, Chase, Landry, Chark, Beckham, Marshall, the Tigers who suffered broken records at #8's hands,
Malik signed a 4 year, $29.2 million dollar deal, snagging an $18 million dollar signing bonus, and setting up to be a situation where the Giants are doing everything they can to emulate the Vikings or Bengals' success in drafting Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase with 1st round picks.
Joining JD5 and Malik is the often unsung but definitely not underwhelming Brian Thomas Jr, the young, towering, physically imposing powerhouse receiver who led the NCAA in touchdowns (17 in 13 games) and capped his own 1,000 yard receiving spree alongside Nabers.
In the eyes of many, Thomas wasn't expected to be a 1st round pick when the 2023 season began, perhaps not even a candidate to enter the Draft at season's end. He was on plenty of analyst's "we'll see" list, but regardless of a drop here or there, or a subpar 2022 compared to what he could've accomplished as a sophomore, Thomas Jr became the full article....a complete receiver.
Jacksonville signed the blistering Tiger talent to a 4 year, fully guaranteed $14.6 million contract, featuring a 7.4 million dollar signing bonus, quite a deal for a receiver who already possesses the hops, pace, and strength to beat most NFL corners and DBs.
Also, Brian's parents have the quote of the night, to watch select here.
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
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