Aaron Anderson Keeps It Real While NFL Scouts Debate His Draft Stock
As the NFL Draft process ramps up, prospects tend to shift into overdrive. Some flood social media with workout clips and combine prep videos.
Others go radio silent, letting their tape do the talking. But LSU wide receiver Aaron Anderson took a different approach this weekend - one that offered a glimpse into what keeps him grounded.
On Sunday, Anderson posted an Instagram story that had nothing to do with football. Instead, it featured a woman and a young child crouched on a sidewalk, both dressed in purple for the Mardi Gras Rally.
The caption was simple: “My loves💙.” With Ella Mai’s “This Is” playing in the background and a tag to @mmawseyy, the message was clear - while the football world dissects his game, Anderson is keeping his focus on what matters most to him: family.
That post comes at a pivotal moment in his draft journey. Anderson declared for the 2026 NFL Draft back in December, and his stock currently sits in a tricky spot.
A recent scouting report pegged him as a mid-fourth-round prospect, and his 2025 production didn’t exactly help his case. He finished the season with 33 catches for 398 yards - a significant drop from his near-900-yard campaign in 2024.
But context is key here: LSU’s offense struggled across the board in 2025, and Anderson’s dip in numbers can’t be viewed in a vacuum.
His college career has been anything but linear. A four-star recruit out of Algiers, Anderson was ranked No. 35 nationally in the 247Sports composite and originally signed with Alabama.
But his freshman year in Tuscaloosa was a quiet one, and he eventually transferred back home to LSU. That move paid off quickly.
As a sophomore, he broke out in a big way, making the Alabama detour look like a necessary step in his development. But then came the junior season drop-off, and now he’s looking to re-establish his value in front of NFL eyes.
That starts with the East-West Shrine Bowl - a key opportunity for Anderson to remind scouts of what he brings to the table. And while the tape doesn’t hide his limitations, it also reveals a player who knows exactly who he is.
Anderson is 5-foot-7 and operates exclusively out of the slot. He’s not going to be a vertical threat, and his route tree still has room to grow.
These aren’t secrets - they were laid out plainly in the February 15 scouting report. But what that same report also highlighted is what makes Anderson intriguing.
He’s quick off the line, creating separation on inside routes without needing elaborate setup moves. He’s tough after the catch, not afraid to absorb contact and keep pushing for extra yards.
The comp that keeps coming up is New England’s Demario Douglas - a slot receiver who wins with short-area quickness and physicality, even if he’s not a burner. Anderson might not have Douglas’ top-end speed, but he brings a similar edge to his game.
Across three seasons at LSU, Anderson totaled 106 receptions, 1,341 yards, and five touchdowns. Those numbers won’t jump off the page, but they don’t tell the full story either. His journey - from blue-chip recruit to transfer, to breakout star, to under-the-radar draft hopeful - is a testament to resilience.
Anderson made his draft declaration official on December 21. Since then, the spotlight has only grown brighter.
But on Sunday, instead of leaning into the hype, he reminded everyone what really centers him. While scouts debate whether a slot-only receiver is worth a fourth-round pick, Anderson is staying true to himself - a player with something to prove, and a reason bigger than football to keep pushing.