After four years at LSU, Sai’vion Jones is taking his talents to the next level. He heard his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Denver Broncos traded up and selected Jones in the fourth round of the draft. They sent the Nos. 111, 130 and 191 overall picks to the Seattle Seahawks for Nos. 101 and 134. He spent four years in Baton Rouge as a key part of the pass rush, turning in his best numbers as a senior in 2024.
Jones set new career-highs with 40 total tackles and eight tackles for loss. He also tied his career-best with 4.5 sacks as part of an impressive senior campaign. He started the year off on a strong note in the season opener when he had two sacks and five tackles as LSU came away with a victory over USC in Las Vegas.
On the whole, Jones totaled 99 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks during his time in Baton Rouge. Now, he’ll head to the NFL after generating some mid-round buzz during the pre-draft process.
Jones played high school football at St. James (La.), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 111 overall player and No. 6-ranked player from the state of Louisiana out of the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, Sai’vion Jones was seen as a potential Day 2 or early Day 3 pick. He could likely carve a role in a 4-3 scheme, according to NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein, who noted Jones has the potential to develop into a starter down the road.
“A 4-3 defensive end who fits the NFL mold with size, toughness and effort,” Zierlein wrote. “Jones has good bend and a couple of reliable moves to unlock the top of the rush. He rarely works beyond pocket depth and has an instinctive secondary rush to cook in the pocket.
“His hands are twitchy and violent but he allows blockers into his frame a little too often. Maximum energy is exerted on every rep but he might need to improve pacing to become more consistent against the run. Jones’ translatable traits and rush talent make him an ascending prospect who could see early third-down reps before taking on a starting spot in the future.”
