Win Up Front Family!! Join us in wishing one of our guys the best of luck during the NFL Draft this weekend!
@ThompsonJoshMI has put in the work day in and day out, and this weekend the world gets to see what we’ve always known... this man belongs in the NFL. Good luck Josh!!
Congratulations to @ThompsonJoshMI! Your newest member of the Kansas City Chiefs! We are all so proud of Josh Thompson! Fenton to Northwestern to LSU to Kansas City! Let’s goooooooo….. #Chiefs
THE CASE FOR JOSH THOMPSON – LSU GUARD – 2026 NFL DRAFT
Everyone in draft circles knows Ioane, Pregnon, Bisontis, and Dunker. Here’s a name you need to know just as well — and here’s why.
JOSH THOMPSON | 6’5” | 317 lbs | LSU (via Northwestern) THE SACK STAT THAT NOBODY IN THIS CLASS CAN MATCH Josh Thompson has not allowed a sack since September 30, 2023 — a Penn State game while starting at Northwestern. That’s a 30+ game sack-free streak across TWO Power Five conferences. Ioane has zero sacks over two seasons at Penn State — impressive, but that’s one conference. Pregnon has zero sacks across his last two-plus years — but he did it in the Pac-12/Big Ten, never the SEC. Bisontis allowed four sacks as a freshman and one each in 2024 and 2025. Dunker allowed 11 sacks across his career. Thompson’s streak is longer and was tested against harder, more diverse competition than anyone in this class.
THE DURABILITY FACTOR At LSU in 2025, Thompson played 140+ more offensive snaps than any other player on the offensive side of the ball. He never missed a game. He never missed a practice. Not one. Thompson was the one guy who was always there, every snap, every rep.
TWO CONFERENCES, THREE COORDINATORS, ZERO DROP-OFF Thompson is the ONLY guard in this 2026 class with significant starting experience in both the Big Ten and the SEC. He earned All-Big Ten honors at Northwestern in 2024, then transferred to LSU and became their most reliable offensive lineman in the SEC. He did this while learning a brand new offensive system — his THIRD in three years under three different offensive coordinators. He didn’t just survive each transition. He got better every single time. Now imagine what he does with actual scheme stability at the NFL level.
THE VENUE RESUME Thompson has started in some of the loudest, most hostile stadiums in America — at Michigan, at Penn State, at Clemson, at Alabama, at Ole Miss. Big Ten road games AND SEC road games. Playoff atmospheres. He was tested in the biggest moments, against the best defensive lines, and his numbers held up every time. No other guard in this class has been battle-tested across that range of environments. THE
FOOTBALL IQ Thompson holds a degree from Northwestern — one of the top academic institutions in the country. The last Northwestern offensive lineman to enter the draft was Peter Skoronski, taken 11th overall by the Bears in 2023. Scouts raved about Skoronski’s processing speed and ability to handle complex protections. Thompson comes from the same program, the same academic environment, and the same offensive line room. His ability to learn three different offensive systems in three years and perform at a high level in each one isn’t just impressive — it’s proof of elite mental processing that translates directly to the NFL.
33 STARTS, THREE POSITIONS Thompson has started at right tackle, right guard, and left guard across his career. That positional versatility, combined with his pass protection dominance, makes him a Swiss Army knife for an NFL offensive line coach. He’s not a specialist — he’s a football player who can be plugged in anywhere on the interior and protect your quarterback.
THE BOTTOM LINE Ioane is the most talented guard in this class and will likely go first. But if you’re an NFL GM asking yourself which guard has proven he can perform at an elite level no matter the conference, the coaching staff, the scheme, or the environment — that answer is Josh Thompson. The tape doesn’t lie, the snap counts don’t lie, and 30+ games without a sack across the Big Ten and the SEC doesn’t lie. He’s the most battle-tested, most durable, most scheme-versatile guard in the 2026 class. He just needs people to pay attention.
There are only 5 guards in all of the Power 4 in College Football who have started on the offensive line for 3 seasons and have not given up a single sack since 2023.
Josh Thompson, LSU
Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Micah Morris, Georgia
Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Logan Parr, SMU
That’s it. That’s the list.
#LSU #PennState #Georgia #Oregon #SMU #PFF
So proud @ThompsonJoshMI. Started every game. 729 snaps at LSU (most on offense). 3rd highest rated pass blocking guard in the SEC. All-Big Ten last year! 1 more ride at Oklahoma this Saturday! It’s your time kid! Your future awaits and you deserve it! #GeauxLSU
Watch what LSU transfer addition Josh Thompson does to Michigan’s Mason Graham (top ranked defensive tackle in the draft)
Safe to say Thompson will fit right in the SEC
Congratulations to Josh on his commitment to LSU! If you’ve seen Josh train - this is no surprise as his attention to detail & effort are second to none. Sky is the limit! Geaux Tigers!
BREAKING: The Lions are signing LB Anthony Pittman off of the Jaguars practice squad to the 53-man roster, per @AaronWilson_NFL.
Welcome Back 👀
#OnePride
Northwestern OL transfer Josh Thompson is visiting Michigan State tomorrow, then Auburn and Ohio State this week.
Several other trips are in the works. (VIP)
https://t.co/vGCc3oGpyC
Some nice O-lineman in the portal you can get immediate return on investment with
Hunter Zambrano (Illinois State)
Patrick Kutas (Ark)
Jordan White (Liberty)
Josh Thompson (Northwestern)
Corey Robinson (GT)
Ethan Onianwa (Rice)
Carver Willis (KSU)