Top 10 LSU Tigers Stars in the NFL

10. Tyrann Mathieu - New Orleans Saints

Tyrann Mathieu's best days are behind him, but the “Honey Badger” is still a valuable veteran for the New Orleans Saints. Mathieu entered the NFL in 2013 as a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals and played five years in Arizona, including one season as an All-Pro honoree. He spent one season in Houston and then revitalized his career with a three-year stop in Kansas City that saw him win a Super Bowl. He moved to the Saints in 2022 and has been in New Orleans for the past three seasons as a durable starting safety.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.

2. Ja'Marr Chase - Cincinnati Bengals

Right behind Justin Jefferson in most wide receiver rankings would be Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals. Chase was with Jefferson on that title-winning LSU team and was drafted with the fifth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals to partner with Joe Burrow. He had more than 100 yards in his first career game and has not looked back since, winning Rookie of the Year and becoming a three-time Pro Bowler. The Bengals have had a rough 2024 season, but Chase has continued to produce, already with 35 receiving touchdowns in his young career.

3. Jayden Daniels - Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy after a legendary campaign with the LSU Tigers. He was drafted No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders, and his rookie season has not disappointed. Daniels started from Day 1, and the Commanders are 6-2 behind his play. He is completing 71.8 percent of his passes and has 11 total touchdowns and only two interceptions. Daniels is not a big guy and has already suffered a rib injury. However, if he can stay healthy, he looks like one of the league’s best young players.

4. Joe Burrow - Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow is an icon at LSU. He transferred from Ohio State with little fanfare and started 13 games in 2018 as the Tigers went 10-3. Everything changed in 2019 as the Tigers went 15-0, and Burrow threw for a remarkable 5,671 yards with 60 touchdowns. It was one of the most impressive offensive seasons in collegiate football history. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Burrow as the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he has helped elevate the Bengals into a consistent contender in the AFC North. A thumb injury has hampered him during the past couple of seasons, but Burrow is still a top-half quarterback with a bright future.

5. Malik Nabers - New York Giants

The LSU Tigers have continued to churn out excellent wide receivers (Brian Thomas Jr. just missed this list), and Malik Nabers is the newest addition to the NFL brotherhood from Baton Rouge. Nabers was terrific in 2023, catching passes from Jayden Daniels before being drafted in the top ten by the New York Giants. His talent is obvious, and he has 46 receptions for 498 yards and three touchdowns despite missing a few games.

6. Derek Stingley Jr. - Houston Texans

Derek Stingley Jr. was a five-star recruit who stayed home and played for the LSU Tigers, starring there from 2019 to 2021. The Houston Texans drafted him with the third pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. When Stingley is on the field, he looks like one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. The issue thus far has been his health. He only played nine games in 2022 before a hamstring injury sidelined him, and he only played 13 games in 2023. He helped the Texans reach the NFL Playoffs last season and has been solid thus far for them in 2024, as they lead the AFC South.

7. Danielle Hunter - Houston Texans

Danielle Hunter was a solid player for LSU from 2012 to 2014 and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The Minnesota Vikings gave him an early role, and he responded with six sacks in his rookie season and 18.5 sacks in only two seasons. His play earned him an extension with the Vikings, and he stayed in Minnesota through the 2023 campaign before signing with the Houston Texans in March 2024. Hunter now has 87.5 sacks, including a fantastic 2023 season where he led the NFL with 16.5 sacks.

8. Kristian Fulton - Los Angeles Chargers

A native of New Orleans, Kristian Fulton played at LSU from 2016 to 2019 and helped the Tigers win the 2019 national title. He was drafted late in the second round by the Tennessee Titans and has been a starting-caliber cornerback when he can play. Fulton has had issues with his hamstring that have limited his availability, but he signed on with the Los Angeles Chargers in March 2024 and has been a starter for Jim Harbaugh’s squad this season.

9. Grant Delpit - Cleveland Browns

On an LSU team loaded with offensive weapons, safety Grant Delpit played a crucial part in helping the Tigers win the 2019 national title. He won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best safety and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Delpit missed the 2020 season with an injury and was a part-time starter in 2021 before becoming a mainstay in the lineup beginning in 2022. Delpit started 15 games in 2022 and signed an extension with the Browns in 2023. He has not entirely lived up to the expectations in Cleveland but has been a solid player in a good defense.

10. Tyrann Mathieu - New Orleans Saints

Tyrann Mathieu's best days are behind him, but the “Honey Badger” is still a valuable veteran for the New Orleans Saints. Mathieu entered the NFL in 2013 as a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals and played five years in Arizona, including one season as an All-Pro honoree. He spent one season in Houston and then revitalized his career with a three-year stop in Kansas City that saw him win a Super Bowl. He moved to the Saints in 2022 and has been in New Orleans for the past three seasons as a durable starting safety.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.