The NFL season is nearly here, and LSU, once again, has some impressive rookies around the league. NFLSU is a slogan for a reason. The Tigers have done an excellent job developing players for the NFL, and even if they had some struggles in college, they shine in the pros. 2026 should be no different, and here’s how each rookie did during preseason:
CB Mansoor Delane
One of the best players on last year’s LSU team, Mansoor Delane had a really good preseason. The pressure is on Delane to perform right away because this team is ready to get back to the Super Bowl. So far, he has done everything correctly to make the Kansas City Chiefs feel good about their chances.
In coverage, Delane was consistent in zone, lockdown in man, and what really stood out was his tackling. The effort he was putting in when the ball wasn’t being thrown to him was exceptional, and one of his top highlights from preseason was a strong tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
SAF A.J. Haulcy
For the Indianapolis Colts, A.J. Haulcy played in their first preseason game and was solid, but after that point, did not play another snap. The staff views him as one of their starting safeties this season, and in a very well-coached defense, the rookie could have a big year ahead of him. He keeps impressing in practice and is making it difficult to not get excited about his potential.
WR Zavion Thomas
In the Chicago Bears’ last preseason game of the year, Zavion Thomas had one of the best performances so far. On 5 targets, Thomas had 5 catches, 140 recieving yards, a touchdown, a 22-yard punt return, and a 39-yard kick return. We are going to talk about Barion Brown soon, but this duo of Tigers receivers is already making their mark in the NFL, and their respective teams think highly of them.
Under Ben Johnson, Thomas could be one of the most exciting rookies this season, even with a limited role in the Bears offense.
TE Bauer Sharp
In the preseason, Bauer Sharp did not have a standout performance with Tampa Bay, but in practice he made an impression on the coaching staff. Still, his spot on the 53-man roster was nowhere near a guarantee, but after the deadline, it was offical that he did end up making it.
As of now, the Bucs have four TEs on their roster, and Sharp is last in the pecking order. With the league utilizing TEs more and more, Sharp’s odds of getting on the field are still high, but being ranked last in that room is still worrying for his longevity on the roster.
WR Barion Brown
As I mentioned earlier, Barion Brown has been the other standout WR from LSU’s draft class. The rookie has gone from being just a return man in New Orleans to WR3 in a matter of months. An injury to New Orleans’ first-round pick Jordyn Tyson helped make that happen, but Brown’s talent also put him in this scenario. In the Saints’ last game of preseason, Brown was heavily utilized and scored his first touchdown in the NFL on a handoff to the WR.
Moving forward, Brown is set to be a major contributor on the Saints’ offense and special teams.
LB Harold Perkins
Another player who had a chance of missing the 53-man roster was linebacker Harold Perkins Jr., but his last game against the Miami Dolphins may have been why he wasn’t moved on from. He was very active, had some good moments blitzing the QB and in coverage, and got a nice 6-yard sack.
Perkins is still developing as a player and may never meet the expectations placed on him at LSU, but for now, he could be a really good depth piece for the Atlanta Falcons.
QB Garrett Nussmeier
The last LSU player picked in the draft, Garrett Nussmeier is set to be the third-string in Kansas City. With Patrick Mahomes being the starter and the team trading for Justin Fields, it was always likely that Nussmeier would be the third option going into the season, even if he had an exceptional preseason.
In the end, Nussmeier actually did have some decent moments in the preseason, making difficult throws, moving in the pocket, and overall showing the staff some positve signs for his development. He didn’t end up throwing a touchdown, and he had one interception, but besides that, it was a good start to a potential long career in the NFL.
EDGE Jack Pyburn
Last is EDGE Jack Pyburn, and he was the standout former Tiger from the UDFAs in 2026. He had two sacks in the preseason and was a player likely to be brought onto the Buccaneers’ roster. That was until some players from the class, including Pyburn, decided it was time to go back to college. Pyburn was set to go back to LSU if he cleared waivers and if the move was allowed (which is a whole other issue), but the Chiefs ended up claiming him.
As of now, Pyburn is on the Chiefs, but who knows what will happen.