The five most valuable players on LSU football’s 2026 roster
LSU football invested money into its 2026 roster for new head coach Lane Kiffin. After firing Brian Kelly, LSU took a big step forward by hiring Kiffin. The star coach was in high demand, and it didn’t just take a raise to lure Kiffin to Baton Rouge: the Tigers also had to make a commitment in terms of resources.
LSU signed the No. 1 transfer portal class in the country. The crop included more than 40 new players, including big-name transfers like quarterback Sam Leavitt and offensive tackle Jordan Seaton. On defense, LSU added passer Princewill Umanmielen and safety Ty Benefield.
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LSU didn’t just spend on prospects in the portal. The Tigers paid to retain rising stars like tight end Trey’Dez Green and running back Harlem Berry.
Today we will look at the five most valuable players on LSU’s roster. Thanks to CollegeFrontOffice, we have insight into the value of every player on LSU’s roster. The CFO uses a combination of reporting, position value, schedule and talent evaluation to estimate a player’s market value. Here’s a look at LSU’s top five.
5. Stephiylan Green | Defensive tackle | Transfer | 1.04 million
Stephiylan Green transferred to LSU after a productive year at Clemson. According to CollegeFrontOffice, Green’s roster value is $1.04 million. Green may not be the most talented player on LSU’s roster and he doesn’t get the same attention as LSU’s stars, but defensive tackles are in high demand, especially in the transfer portal. They are not cheap.
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4. Jordan Ross | Defensive end | Transfer | 1.05 million
Ross comes in at No. 4 on LSU’s roster with a valuation of 1.05 million. That number doesn’t necessarily match the production we saw from Ross over two years at Tennessee, but he is a former five-star, plays a premium position and was acquired through the transfer portal. All three elements drive up its price.
3. Princewill Umanmielen | Defensive end | Transfer | 1.5 million
Umanmielen’s placement on this list is no surprise. He was one of the highest-ranked players in the transfer portal and one of the most productive passers in the SEC in 2025.
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2. Jordan Seaton | Offensive tackle | Transfer | 4 million
Few positions are as important as left tackle. When former Colorado tackle Jordan Seaton entered the transfer portal, we knew he would be expensive. It was reported that LSU ended up paying $4 million for Seaton, beating Oregon in a bidding war. If Seaton brings the expected improvement to LSU’s offensive line, he will be worth every penny.
1. Sam Leavitt | Quarterback | Transfer | 6 million
The CFO lists new LSU QB Sam Leavitt as a $6 million player. With Garrett Nussmeier leaving for the NFL and the rest of LSU’s QB room entering the transfer portal, LSU found itself without a QB on the roster. Kiffin was determined to land one of the best available, which ensured LSU didn’t give up its pursuit of Leavitt. There were a few twists and turns along the way, but LSU managed to bring the former Arizona State QB to Baton Rouge.
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Takeaways
The most obvious takeaway from this list is that transfers are very expensive. A transfer carries more weight on the open market than a high school recruit; teams are more willing to spend to meet needs. This increases the price of each Power Four quality player in the portal.
According to CFO, the five highest-paid players on LSU’s roster are transfers. That’s not to say these five players are the best on LSU’s roster, but they are the most “expensive.”
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: The Five Most Valuable Players on LSU Football’s 2026 Roster
