The 2026 NFL season is coming soon, and with it comes a chance to watch more great alumni of the storied LSU program. Of course, some teams have recognized that greatness better than others, and I am here to pass judgment upon the NFL for how well it did so, starting with the AFC. Each team gets a letter grade for its NFLSU-ness, a perfectly well-defined concept that I shouldn’t have to explain because everyone already understands it. The NFC grades will come next week.
Bills: C Lloyd Cushenberry, LS Reid Ferguson, HC Joe Brady
The center of a Joe Moore Award-winning
offensive line and the eldest of the Ferguson long snapping duo are two solid players for any squad. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for long snappers because of how badly a team needs one when they don’t have a good one. Add on their head coach, the man who orchestrated the greatest offense ever put on a college football field, and you have a very good representation of the development that comes from NFLSU.
Grade: A
Dolphins: S Major Burns (practice squad)
Practice squad is better than nothing, but it’s not going to cut it.
Grade: F
Patriots: OT Will Campbell
Second-year tackle Will Campbell is coming into 2026 looking to make big strides after having a “welcome to the NFL” season where he got baptized several times. An AFC championship title in year one gives him extra motivation to become the best version of himself. The Patriots dropped a letter grade after trading Kayshon Boutte, so they’re just meh.
Grade: C
Jets: TE Mason Taylor
The best rookie tight end of 2025 gets to showcase more of his skills this season. Sadly, he’s still with the New York Jets, a team incapable of ever getting out of its own way. They became the first team in recorded NFL history to have fewer than 2 interceptions in a season. Maybe they should’ve found an LSU DB to fix that, but since they didn’t, they aren’t as good as the Patriots.
Grade: D
Ravens: C Ethan Pocic, OT Emery Jones
I forgot Ethan Pocic was still in the league, but he is and he’s alongside a budding young star. Emery Jones was a solid right tackle for LSU and has so much talent waiting to be realized. The Ravens are under new management, and it’ll be interesting to see how that goes. With not much else to say, though, this is mediocre from an NFLSU perspective.
Grade: C
Bengals: QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja’Marr Chase
Chase is injured, sadly, but this duo will always be the greatest thing ever. I have said more than necessary.
Grade: A+
Browns: S Grant Delpit
One of Cleveland’s better players in the secondary is Grant Delpit. The problem the Browns face is that they have no offense. If only there were some LSU players they could go get to help with that. Since they didn’t, their fate is the same as the Jets’.
Grade: D
Steelers: LB Patrick Queen
Patrick Queen is a solid depth piece at linebacker who plays quite well. The breakout he had in 2019 is one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen, and it’s why he’s managed to stick around in such prominent roles in the NFL. Since the Steelers couldn’t plug as many gaping holes with LSU guys, they’ll get a bit of a pass on that end.
Grade: C
Texans: WR Kayshon Boutte, TE Foster Moreau, G Ed Ingram, LB Danielle Hunter, CB Derek Stingley Jr., DE Ali Gaye (IR)
A bunch of LSU alumni in Houston is the most fitting thing possible. From the best freshman DB ever Derek Stringley Jr. to the legendary Foster Moreau to “yes, Danielle Hunter’s still playing,” this roster has everything. Heck, they traded for Kayshon Boutte in the offseason to make it better. This is the most well-rounded NFLSU roster in the NFL.
Grade: A+
Colts: DE Arden Key, S A.J. Haulcy (rookie), LB West Weeks (practice squad, rookie)
Yes, Arden Key is still playing in the NFL. One of the best “remember some guys” dudes I ever watched has carved out quite the career in the NFL. With A.J. Haulcy on the main roster and West Weeks on the practice squad, this is decent by NFLSU standards. If Weeks makes the main roster, this grade would go up slightly.
Grade: B-
Jaguars: WR Brian Thomas Jr.
The one LSU wide receiver who’s infuriated fans more than any other recently. He was so good in college, and his rookie season was fantastic. 2025 was a sophomore slump that made people wonder if 2024 was a fluke. This year will be one to keep eyes on, because he’s playing for that fifth year option. Rest of the roster is meh and didn’t have a gaping hole that should be filled with a former Tiger.
Grade: C
Titans: G Garrett Dellinger, CB Cor’Dale Flott
Dellinger was a 7th round pick in 2025 by the Ravens, but his debut came with the Browns. He’s going to be a depth guy hanging onto the end of the roster. Cor’Dale Flott is still in the league after five years. I don’t know how that happened, but it’s a welcome surprise. He’s not a top corner for the team, but that doesn’t really matter. It’s worth being blunt here: the Titans are really bad. Two bench guys won’t make their NFLSU grade high, either.
Grade: C
Broncos: DE Sai’vion Jones
Sai’Vion Jones barely played in his rookie year, though he did log a fumble recovery in the little time he did play. He’s expected to be another fringe DE at the start of this year, and that tracks with Sean Payton’s long history of ignoring LSU talent.
Grade: D
Chiefs: QB Garrett Nussmeier (rookie), LB Jack Pyburn (rookie), CB Mansoor Delane (rookie), CB Kristian Fulton
The front office most willing to look past the bad season for the potential of great players from the 2025 team resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Also Kristian Fulton’s here, which is nice. The Chiefs recent pickup of Jack Pyburn off waivers brought them up a letter grade. That man is going to lay some wood this year.
Grade: A
Chargers: CB Donte Jackson
Still a solid contributor going into his age-30 season, Donte Jackson is in a contract year. His two-year deal with the stolen San Diego squad expires at the end of the year, and he’s looking to make a good impression. The rest of the team is fine, so this gets the most meh grade possible.
Grade: C
Raiders: N/A
As if the Raiders weren’t bad enough.
Grade: F-
