LSU EDGE Bradyn Swinson's NFL dream starts as Patriots' 5th-rounder
Bradyn Swinson carried around an NFL football throughout his final season at LSU, referencing to reporters a superstition to “keep your dreams close.”
Those professional dreams he’d been manifesting further crystalized Saturday when the New England Patriots selected the Tigers edge rusher with their fifth-round pick, No. 146 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
He became LSU’s second defensive player and fifth player overall selected in this year’s event, joining offensive lineman Will Campbell — whom New England selected Thursday — as well as tight end Mason Taylor (New York Jets), offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. (Baltimore Ravens) and fellow defensive end Sai’vion Jones (Denver Broncos).
Swinson exploded this season, his second in Baton Rouge and fifth in college, into a Second-Team All-SEC performer and one of the nation’s most disruptive playmakers off the edge.
The 6-foot-4, 255-pound athlete finished the fall with 8.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss to surpass his previous career totals in both categories, while also leading his team with 12 hurries, wrapping up 58 total tackles, forcing a pair of fumbles and deflecting three passes.
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He talked throughout the season about the development of his mentality and consistency of preparation under new edge rushers coach Kevin Peoples.
“During this whole season, he showed me the weeks that I practiced hard and I had an exceptional week at practice, look at the outcome of the game,” Swinson said. “So I feel like I took my preparation and practice to a whole ‘nother level and just honing in on the details and everything. And when you’re winning in practice and consistently getting better in practice and you consistently rep that thing over and over, it gets easier for you. So on game day, it just feels like everything gets way easier, and I’m able just to play fast.”
The Tigers have now had at least three players selected in every draft since 2001 — a streak of 25 years under four different coaching tenures.
LSU’s 2025 NFL Draft Class
Rd. 1, Pick 4 | OL Will Campbell | New England Patriots | Story
Rd. 2, Pick 42 | TE Mason Taylor | New York Jets | Story
Rd. 3, Pick 91 | OL Emery Jones Jr. | Baltimore Ravens | Story
Rd. 3, Pick 101 | EDGE Sai’vion Jones | Denver Broncos | Story
Rd. 5, Pick 146 | EDGE Bradyn Swinson | New England Patriots | Story
Rd. 5, Pick 171 | OL Miles Frazier | Detroit Lions | Story
Rd. 7, Pick 243 | OL Garrett Dellinger | Baltimore Ravens | Story
