Only One LSU Tiger Appears In Latest ESPN NFL Mock Draft

It has been a horror show of a season for LSU football, sitting at 5-4 and watching playoff hopes vanish faster than a vampire in sunlight...it is tough to watch. While Tigers fans were hoping for dominance in Baton Rouge, but this year was so bad, Brian Kelly got ejected midseason. A move that resulted in the largest coaching buyout in college football history.

But if there is one thing fans can always count on, it is the NFL Draft.

Sometimes it feels like the draft is turning into an LSU reunion show every single April. Every year since 2020, the NFL Draft has included at least 6 LSU players. With 11 players going in the first round over the last five years. In fact, only one draft since 2020 did not include an LSU Tiger in the First Round. But that trend could be in trouble in the 2026 Draft.

Is The LSU First Round Reputation In Danger?

The latest 2026 mock draft from ESPN expert Matt Miller looks like the First Round party might be quieting down a little bit next year. Miller only lists one Tiger in his top 32 picks...and it might not be who you expect.

In this latest NFL mock draft, the only LSU Tiger listed is cornerback Mansoor Delane, who is projected to go 21st overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It is wild to see only one name on the list after getting used to having three or four guys taken early every single year. Delane has been a beast since transferring from Virginia Tech, even landing as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, while the rest of the defense tries to find its footing.

What Makes Mansoor Delane Special?

Delane brings that classic DBU swagger, and sticky man coverage, that NFL scouts absolutely love to see on tape. He is arguably the best cover corner in the entire class...using elite instincts to shut down receivers and make quarterbacks look elsewhere. This dude looks like the real deal.

If he does land in the First Round, he would be carrying the torch for a program that prides itself on sending defensive backs to the league. There might not be the quantity we are used to in 2026, but at least LSU will be sending the quality of defensive back that the NFL has come to expect.