This offseason will be a little different for the LSU Football team than last offseason was. The Tigers went through a ton of change on offense last offseason losing Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr to the NFL Draft along with starting running back Logan Diggs to the transfer portal. This offseason the defense will go under massive turnover as Greg Penn III, Bradyn Swinson, Sai'Vion Jones, Paris Shand, Gio Paez, Sage Ryan, Major Burns, and Zy Alexander will definitely depart while the Tigers may also lose Harold Perkins Jr.
In a few places LSU either has key pieces in place to fill the holes while in a few more the Tigers will add talented freshmen that can fill in the cracks. Defensive Tackles Dominick McKinley and Jay'Viar Suggs will likely slide into starting roles as can Da'Shawn Womack and Gabe Reliford up front. At Linebacker Dahvon Keys or West Weeks can fill the roles like they have the past few weeks. In the secondary, LSU has added some talented young players over the past few years but, you'd hope they target some experienced impact players.
While LSU will want to play some of the younger pieces like DJ Pickett, Kade Phillips, and Damien Shanklin who have everyone excited, the Tigers will also need to use the transfer portal rather than relying on freshmen.
Brian Kelly told the media on Monday that LSU plans on using the transfer portal more than he has in his time at LSU.
"We will be very aggressive. We weren't in the transfer portal last year. Put together a Defensive Line with minimal resources. We stayed, to use a term loosely, well under the cap. We're also bringing in 16 mid-years (Freshmen) and maybe the largest transfer portal class as well."Brian Kelly
Realistically, LSU needs to go into the transfer portal for a SEC Caliber edge rusher, rotational pieces on the interior defensive line, and for an impact player at safety.
While the Tigers have a ton of defensive ends that you're confident can make an impact with another offseason of development, you also can't enter a season with all unknowns at the position. Bo Davis is bringing in a massive class of defensive tackles but, you'd like to add at least one or two players that can start or play a rotational role in case of injury.
The position where LSU has lacked true difference makers for the last few seasons has been at safety. Given that two starting roles will open up you'd hope that LSU will fill at least one of them with a proven impactful player at the Power Four level. Getting a reliable safety will allow LSU more freedom with playing its younger cornerbacks and younger safeties alongside him.
Its much easier to reload on the defensive side
The offense is going to need transfer additions as well as they replace four of five starters on the offensive line, Kyren Lacy, and potentially Mason Taylor. Its much easier for LSU to go All In using the transfer portal than it will be on the offensive side of the football. If LSU can get defensive difference makers out of the portal they have to as its much easier to find defensive linemen then it is to find SEC caliber offensive tackles. LSU may take a step back to start next season as they break in a new offensive line which makes having an dependable defense even more important.