LSU’s Key, Guice To Slip In Draft?

Two top talents from LSU could slide in this year’s draft, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Despite their talent, teams have serious concerns about defensive end Arden Key and running back Derrius Guice.

Key’s issues have been well-documented. The edge rusher is coming off of a down year and recently revealed to teams that his “leave of absence” from the team stemmed from a voluntary stint in rehab for marijuana use.

“He was a shell of what he was,” an AFC scout said of his 2017 season. “His actions have proven to be habitual, and I don’t know that he can kick it.”

Marijuana isn’t a major deal for NFL teams in this day and age, but Pelissero hears that evaluators see his usage as an impediment to his career. Key has to answer for being overweight in his final season on campus and clubs are also concerned about his offseason shoulder surgery. On a Friday afternoon conference call, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said that he thinks Key is likely to go in the fourth or fifth round because of off-field concerns.

Guice, meanwhile, still ranks as one of the top players at his position, but personality concerns could hurt him. Guice made headlines earlier this year when he said that he was asked during combine interviews about his sexual orientation and whether his mother was a prostitute. Apparently, Guice has privately walked back those claims and said that he was not asked those questions by NFL teams.

“His explanation was that it was taken out of context,” one executive said. “There’s just a lot going on with him.”

While Key now seems a longshot to hear his name called in Day 1 of the draft, Guice could still be a first round pick.

“Is he talented? Yep. Do you have to have a handle on how to deal with him? Absolutely,” an offensive coordinator said. “He’s not a bad person — he’s just immature, silly. If he wasn’t all that other stuff, he’d be drafted in the top 20 picks. And he still might be in the top 20 picks.”