Interesting read - Article ranking early departures decisions to the NFL last year

Not reading all that link !!

Let me help you with that.

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25. Kevin Toliver II (LSU/Undrafted) Toliver gambled and paid the price when he was not selected last April. But he did what all great defensive backs do. He quickly erased a bad moment and replaced it with a highlight. Toliver signed with the Chicago Bears and worked his way into the starting lineup. So he’s contributing in the NFL. Still, at 6-2, 192, it’s hard to imagine the former 5-star recruit being undrafted this April had he returned.

24. Toby Weathersby (LSU/Undrafted) Weathersby obviously overestimated his draft value last year and could have benefitted by staying another year in Baton Rouge. The Tigers obviously would have, too. But credit him for sticking with it. Picked up (and later released) by the Philadelphia Eagles, he recently signed with the New England Patriots’ practice squad.

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19. Arden Key (LSU/Oakland) This isn’t a full-blown indictment of his decision. It worked out well — third-round pick, started 10 games as a rookie, etc. But his combination of size and speed leaves you to wonder whether a huge senior season could have pushed him into the first round in 2019. At 4 years, $3.9 million, it feels like he might have left money on the table.

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17. Will Clapp (LSU/New Orleans) Clapp likely could have improved his draft stock — he was taken late in the 7th round last year — but the bottom line is he not only made the Saints roster, he ended up starting as a rookie for a team that has a chance to win the Super Bowl. His 4-year deal is worth $2.5 million. He probably could have improved on that a bit, too, had he returned, but that’ll buy a lot of rounds for friends on Bourbon Street.

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7. Donte Jackson (LSU/Carolina) Jackson started 16 games and led the Panthers with 4 interceptions. He had a solid case to make the All-Rookie team. The only benefit in returning to LSU would have been to try to get into the first round.

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1. Derrius Guice (LSU/Washington) And this is why elite running backs leave when they can. Guice slipped into the second round but still signed a 4-year deal worth $4.5 million, of which more than $2.4 is guaranteed. Before his first snap, he tore an ACL and missed the season. Had that happened at LSU, as a senior, does he even get drafted? Maybe, but not anywhere near the second round or for that much money. You might not be able to predict injuries, but you can’t prevent them, either. As for his recovery?

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shutterspeed

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Thank you.

And not only the benefits to the O-Line - but also most LSU fans felt our other glaring weakness was a lack of pass rush (once Chaisson went down in Game #1). Arden Key (if healthy and motivated) was a one-man wreaking crew when it came to a pass rush specialist.