Average Transfer Portal Costs shows why Brian Kelly passed on buying this Spring

While the LSU Football team entered the Spring transfer period with the lofty expectation of landing multiple defensive tackles they leave likely only gaining Jay'Viar Suggs. The program can't be blamed for not trying as they hosted nearly a dozen defensive tackles on official visits or offered them a scholarship.

While Brian Kelly likely wishes LSU did more this Spring, he likely made the right decisions in how he went about tackling the Spring transfer portal. Kelly told the WAFB-TV that LSU was "Not in the market of buying players and unfortunately, right now, that's what some guys are looking for."

When referring to buying players, Kelly is talking about the demands of transfers for certain figures in NIL which has become a growing trend. 24/7 Sports reached out to sources and compiled the average ranges for what each position was getting in NIL deals and the numbers paint a clear picture of what Kelly is talking about.

The estimated range for a starting caliber defensive tackle started at $250,000 and on average went as high as $600,000 with reports indicating some defensive tackles fetched far larger deals. While Brian Kelly would've loved to land the high impact defensive tackle LSU hoped for at the current asking rates it's easy to pass up.

The current landscape of college football will require that teams pay recruits on a yearly basis and for Kelly, investing at such a steep price on a player that will at most make an impact for one season isn't the best option. Brian Kelly should also feel like he shouldn't have to pay players, especially at defensive tackle where he just sent three players to the NFL where they signed $13 million dollars in contracts and received $3.3 Million in signing bonuses.

The players like Gio Paez and Jay'Viar Suggs who chose to come and play for the right reasons, to develop and with hopes of making it to the NFL are now in good situations. The duo will learn under Bo Davis who has sent plenty of talent to the NFL himself while his coaching history in the NFL will be massive for their development. Brian Kelly is betting on the upside of the players coming in and the incoming freshman to make a leap under Davis rather than spending massive sums on players who may make a difference.

Now it's time for Bo Davis to work his magic

The LSU Football program will now need Bo Davis to do what he does best and develop the talent LSU has on it's roster to the level it needs. Players like Jay'Viar Suggs, Dominick McKinley, Shone Washington, and De'Myrion Johnson who haven't played at this level will all have a chance to impress this summer and earn starting roles. If Davis can get some of these younger players to the level they need to reach then the LSU defense may have building blocks on the interior for the seasons to come.

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