Realistically, how much would the maximum contract be?

It really doesn't matter. You get your guy. With the way the market works in this business, a contract that seems above market will look like a bargain in 5 years. You get the guy you think will be the best coach and if he is successful, you won't care at all about paying a few million above market today when it's what a middle-of-the-road SEC coach will be making 5-10 years down the line.

Sounds very reasonable.
And give his coordinators $5-8 Million/year each with position coaches at $2 - 3 million/year.
LSU can afford it and it is not our money anyway.

I think there's a bit of market play depending on the hire. If it's a guy like Stoops, we might be looking $6-7MM/yr for 5 years with a tapered buyout and certain accelerators. If it's a guy like Riley, I think it's probably more overall and a bigger guarantee because you are convincing him to leave a good spot, like a Jimbo at TAMU deal.

For the Tuckers, Franklins, and Napiers of the world, I don't think LSU has to overpay or overcommit. Success at LSU means a massive raise. If they aren't up to snuff, they'll still settle out at a mid-tier or Saban-rehab type program and resurface somewhere else.

I think whatever it takes to get the guy you want!

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But for Tomlin, up it to $15 M/$150 Million total

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After his rant he went on the other day, I don't think anyone will be bringing up Tomlin in any press conferences again . I've never understood how anyone would think he would leave the Steelers. Especially for a college job. The guy has one of the most secure positions in all of professional sports and has never had a losing season. I seriously doubt the Rooney's would let him get away from them and would pay whatever they needed to keep him there, plus, he already said there isn't a booster with a blank check big enough to pry him out of there. So, odds are it isn't really that much about money to him. He really seemed genuinely pissed off that those rumors even existed.