PALMER: Top Five LSU players with NFL Draft decisions

By Hunt Palmer

Roster retention is a new college football buzz word.

Not only are head coaches recruiting high school players and transfer portal targets, they must keep talented players on the current roster, as well. That doesn’t just mean guarding against the portal. The same goes for the NFL Draft.

Brian Kelly said Saturday night that some “key players” will return to LSU as opposed to turning professional. Plenty of rumors have swirled in Baton Rouge over the last two weeks.

Here’s a list of the Top 5 players LSU needs to keep in the program moving into 2025.

Garrett Nussmeier, QB

Nussmeier just posted the third most prolific passing season in LSU history. He completed 64 percent of his throws for 3735 yards and 26 touchdowns. His 11 interceptions proved costly, but he didn’t throw a single one in his final three games (115 attempts).
He finished sixth in the country in passing yards per game, 12^th in touchdown passes and fourth in completions.
Two things can be true. Nussmeier needs to play more consistently for LSU to be a championship contender. Also, he’s got the tools to play at that level.
In a league that drafted players like Paxton Lynch, EJ Manuel, Daniel Jones and Zach Wilson in the first round, Nussmeier would be a high draft choice if he elected to come out. However, he’s not going to be forced out for financial reasons. This will be a development decision. His father, a longtime NFL quarterbacks coach, has been rumored to be pushing for one more collegiate season
Prediction: Returns to LSU

Emery Jones, OT

Jones has started all but two games in his three seasons at LSU. He was inserted into the right tackle spot in Game 2 of his career and missed the Army game in 2023 with an injury. He’s an elite pass blocker who has had a few blips of inconsistency in the running game.
Jones would likely be a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft and may profile as a guard at the next level.
Will Campbell is expected to be an early entrant which could open up the left tackle spot for Jones to move into. Perhaps Tyree Adams or a portal addition slots in at left tackle, and Jones stays put on the right side.
Two months ago, it was a foregone conclusion that Jones would move on to the professional ranks. That doesn’t appear to be the case now.
Prediction: Returns to LSU

Mason Taylor, TE

Taylor is the most productive tight end in school history. He, like Jones, started Game 2 of his freshman season and has never left the lineup. In three seasons, he’s caught 129 passes for 1308 yards and six touchdowns. He’ll be mentioned with names like David LaFluer and Richard Dickson as the best to ever do it in Baton Rouge.
Taylor has the size, route running ability and hands to play in the NFL. He doesn’t have much more to prove at the collegiate level. The decision just boils down to whether or not he wants to play another year of college football.
Prediction: Enters NFL Draft

Harold Perkins Jr., LB

Perkins was on some first round lists as of September. That’s not the case anymore. Unfortunately, his production wasn’t quite there early in the season, and then he suffered a torn ACL against UCLA.
Perkins is an elite athlete. He’s just a tough piece to position properly in a defense. He’s not big enough to play the run from the edge. He’s not as disruptive in coverage as he is rushing the passer.
Some NFL team would select him on Day 2 of the draft if he would have entered. A final season in college to find a more predictable and traditional role could move him back up into Round 1 in 2026.
Prediction: Returns to LSU

Chris Hilton, WR

Saturday night Hilton showed what he can bring to an offense. Simply put, LSU doesn’t have another wide receiver who can run like Hilton. Kelly spoke in November about defenses “squatting” on LSU’s short passing game. With Hilton in the game, that’s not as easy to do.
Injuries have ravaged Hilton’s time in college. He dealt with a chronic injury in his freshman season of 2021. He missed the final 10 games in 2022. Then he missed the first seven games of 2024.
The draft isn’t likely the next move for Hilton. He could transfer for a fresh start or use his two-touchdown effort from Saturday as a springboard into a final season at LSU.
Prediction: Enters transfer portal