Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season has wrapped up, marking the halfway point. LSU’s season is also three-quarters complete, and while there has been plenty of recent news about the current team, it also feels like a good time to check in on some former Tigers and see how they’re doing in their rookie seasons.
LSU had seven players selected in the 2025 NFL draft, including OT Will Campbell (1st round), TE Mason Taylor (2nd round), OT Emery Jones Jr. (3rd round), EDGE Sai’vion Jones (3rd round), EDGE Bradyn Swinson (5th round), OG Miles Frazier (5th round), and OG Garrett Dellinger (7th round).
Will Campbell — OT — New England Patriots
Campbell was the star of LSU’s class, selected fourth overall by the New England Patriots. He’s had a strong start to his rookie year, protecting the blindside of his MVP candidate quarterback, Drake Maye. Although Campbell has made some rookie mistakes expected of a young tackle, with six penalties this year, he’s still been impressive overall.
Campbell has PFF’s 34th-best run blocking grade among offensive tackles and their 22nd-best pass blocking grade.
Mason Taylor — TE — New York Jets
Taylor has had a fairly productive start to his NFL career, ranking fourth among rookie tight ends in both receptions and receiving yards. It’s certainly possible that he would be higher on the list if he were in a different offense, as New York ranks 26th in the league in passing attempts per game.
Taylor has been a solid contributor so far, and his role is only expanding. Here is a prime example from Week 8, where Taylor catches the go-ahead touchdown to help the Jets secure their first win of the season.
Emery Jones Jr. — OT — Baltimore Ravens
Jones Jr. has yet to play an NFL snap this season, as he underwent shoulder surgery after the combine that has kept him off the field so far this year. Jones has been participating in practice over the past few weeks, but he hasn’t been able to get up to speed just yet.
Given where he was drafted, expect Jones to take the field at some point this season.
Sai’vion Jones — DE — Denver Broncos
Jones has only played in one game so far this season, but that’s mainly because of the talent ahead of him on the Broncos’ defensive line, not because of anything involving Jones himself.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has praised how Jones has performed in practice this season, saying he’s “growing so fast.”
Bradyn Swinson — EDGE — New England Patriots
Swinson was waived and placed on the New England Patriots’ practice squad before the season began. This was a notable surprise, but Swinson was a raw prospect coming out of LSU, so it was understandable that he would need time to develop.
Swinson has kept his head down and continued to work on the practice squad, however.
“These last three weeks — I actually told him before practice how proud I was of him,” Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith told reporters. “He’s really developing and guys like that, younger guys, it takes time, when they get in a rhythm and a routine of things and feel how the NFL is.”
Miles Frazier — OG — Detroit Lions
Frazier began the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a knee injury, but seems to be eyeing a return soon based on his recent social media posts.
Frazier will have a chance to play if he recovers quickly, as one of the Lions’ starting guards, Christian Mahogany, sustained a long-term injury against the Vikings.
Garrett Dellinger — OG — Cleveland Browns
Dellinger was drafted in the 7th round by the Baltimore Ravens but was placed on their practice squad. The Cleveland Browns then signed Dellinger to their practice squad on August 28, where he has remained ever since.
Cleveland’s offensive line has struggled significantly this season, and Dellinger should get the chance to take the field if the starters continue their poor trajectory.
Josh Williams — RB — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Williams signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent this offseason, and injuries in their running back room created an opportunity for him to get some playing time.
Williams has appeared in two games so far during the regular season, taking four carries for 11 yards.
