Jayden Daniels and fellow draft-eligible LSU players took the spotlight at the school’s Pro Day, providing scouts with their first appearance since the regular-season finale.
Daniels, the reigning Heisman winner, opted out of NFL Scouting Combine drills but showcased his throwing skills at the Pro Day.
Following the event, Daniels had scheduled meetings with several NFL teams, including the New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders, marking his initial interactions with them.
Daniels is anticipated to be a top-three pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, earning high praise as one of the top quarterback prospects this spring.
Consequently, the New England Patriots, holding the third overall pick, made a significant presence at LSU’s Pro Day.
Notably, Director of Scouting Eliot Wolf, Head Coach Jerod Mayo, and Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt were among the nine Patriots staff members in attendance, underscoring their interest in the talented quarterback.
LSU’s Pro Day attracted several head coaches from quarterback-needy teams, including Antonio Pierce of the Raiders, Dan Quinn of the Commanders, Brian Daboll of the Giants, and Matt Eberflus of the Bears.
Additionally, Commanders GM Adam Peters and Patriots executive Alonzo Highsmith were seen engaging with Daniels during the event, indicating keen interest from these teams in the talented quarterback prospect.
While all these teams have high draft picks, the Raiders, not in the top 10, stand out. Pierce’s connection with Daniels from their time at Arizona State adds an intriguing dimension to the interest.
Height and weight concerns have shadowed Daniels, listed at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds during his Heisman-winning season.
At the Pro Day, he maintained the same weight but stood an inch shorter at 6-foot-3. His hands, measuring at 9 3/8 inches, were smaller compared to some combine participants.
However, they surpassed those of other projected top-10 picks like Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy.
At LSU’s Pro Day, Daniels showcased his skills with over 50 passes, demonstrating a variety of throws from short to deep routes.
Joining him was another top prospect, Malik Nabers, a projected top-10 pick and one of the consensus top-three receiver prospects.
Nabers, measuring at 6 feet and 199 pounds, impressed with a blazing 40-yard dash of 4.35 seconds, followed by a 4.40-second run, along with a remarkable 42-inch vertical jump.
Nabers’ impressive performance would have ranked him among the top performers at the combine, with his 40-yard dash time placing fourth among receivers and his vertical jump tying for the third-highest.
Additionally, his broad jump of 10 feet and 9 inches would have tied for sixth among receiver prospects at the combine.
After Nabers’ stellar 40-yard dash, Daniels rushed over to celebrate with his standout receiver from the past season, acknowledging Nabers’ remarkable speed.
Nabers’ standout performance has garnered interest from teams, including the Patriots, Giants, Jets, Titans, and Jaguars, who met with him on Tuesday.
The Cardinals, holding the fourth overall pick, are also intrigued and have a meeting scheduled with him post-event. Despite projections favoring Marvin Harrison Jr., Nabers is making a strong case as a top receiver prospect in the draft.
LSU boasts more wide receiver talent, with Brian Thomas Jr. notably posting a quicker 40-yard dash than Nabers. However, Thomas didn’t participate in athletic drills at the Pro Day.
LSU’s Pro Day was one of the week’s highlights, with North Carolina’s Pro Day scheduled next, featuring Maye. Many attendees from LSU’s event are expected to travel to Chapel Hill to observe another top quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
