ESPN Names Replacements For The Three LSU Tigers Drafted In The First Round

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. were all first-round picks in the NFL Draft last week.

Now that Draft is officially in the books, ESPN released an article this week identifying all of the replacements for the first-round players.

For LSU, ESPN has Garrett Nussmeier, CJ Daniels, Zavion Thomas, and Kyren Lacy as the guys pick up the slack in 2024.

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2. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Replacement: Garrett Nussmeier

The Tigers are undergoing a complete makeover on offense after Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, and his two 1,000-yard receivers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., were selected in the first round. Former LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock departed for Notre Dame as well. LSU coach Brian Kelly promoted quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and receivers coach/passing game coordinator Cortez Hankton to co-offensive coordinators, with Sloan taking over the playcalling.

The good news? Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is more than ready to take over. He waited three seasons behind Daniels and was MVP of the ReliaQuest Bowl after passing for 395 yards with three scores in a 35-31 victory over Wisconsin. -- Mark Schlabach

6. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Replacement: CJ Daniels or Zavion Thomas

With Nabers and Thomas off to the NFL draft, the Tigers plucked CJ Daniels (Liberty) and Zavion Thomas (Mississippi State) from the transfer portal. Daniels was a second-team All-Conference USA selection after catching 55 passes for 1,067 yards with 10 touchdowns in 2023. He had seven 100-yard receiving games in 32 contests at Liberty.

Thomas was one of the most explosive kick and punt returners in the SEC during his two seasons with the Bulldogs. He had 40 receptions for 503 yards with one touchdown in 2023, while adding 202 yards on six kickoff returns and 163 yards on 14 punt returns. He averaged 12.4 yards each time he touched the ball last season. Kyren Lacy was LSU's No. 3 receiver last season, and he figures to become Nussmeier's primary target in 2024. -- Mark Schlabach

23. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Replacement: Kyren Lacy

He's LSU's top returning wide receiver, having played in 27 games (12 starts) in his past two seasons with the Tigers. He started the final nine games of 2023 and finished third on the team in yards (558) and touchdown receptions (seven) and fourth in receptions (30). Following his redshirt freshman season, Lacy transferred from Louisiana-Lafayette, where he caught 50 passes for 668 yards and 10 touchdowns. -- Heather Dinich

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