The Oregon Ducks have become an NFL Draft factory which has it's perks, but it also comes with some downsides. This year, Oregon lost two players to the 1st round in Dillon Thieneman and Kenyon Sadiq, but the Ducks also lost two offensive linemen to the draft along with Isaiah World as an undrafted free agent.
Dan Lanning and his staff often go big game hunting in the Transfer Portal, and this offseason they tried to bolster their offensive line. The Ducks and LSU became the two schools locked in a battle over the top offensive tackle in the Transfer Portal Jordan Seaton with Lane Kiffin and Dan Lanning each racking up frequent flyer miles.
Welcome to Atlanta @oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/ZGs3Jpxo29
— Jordan Seaton (@JordanSeaton_) January 21, 2026
In the end, Jordan Seaton picked the Tigers, and on Wednesday a big reason why LSU was the pick was revealed.
LSU reset the market just to hold off Oregon
On Wednesday, CBS Sports' Chris Hummer reported that Jordan Seaton's deal with the LSU Tigers is likely north of the $4 million range. Hummer also believes that LSU paid Jordan Seaton more than any offensive lineman in college football history.
Transfer OT Jordan Seaton is believed to have landed a deal with LSU worth more than $4 million, industry sources tell our @chris_hummer.
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) May 6, 2026
Seaton's pay package is believed to be the largest for an OL in college football history.
More on how LSU landed the No. 1 OT in the portal… pic.twitter.com/NHC0ZslAe6
The payday is truly stunning as it's still so new to see players making NFL level salaries at the college level. Jordan Seaton is believed by many to be a top 10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, and when a player of that level hits the open market, they're always going to cash in.
Oregon seemed in the mix right until the very end, and it's unclear how much the Ducks offered the Colorado transfer. Whether the Ducks offered the same figure or not, it's likely wise that Oregon ended up adding several impactful player rather than committing a massive chunk of the budget to one player while already having pieces like Dante Moore and others who are making reportedly high salaries.
The Ducks have become a force on the recruiting trail with the track record of development, Dan Lanning's pull, and the resources. Oregon won't always win every recruiting battle, but it certainly sends a message when it took $4 million to beat out the Ducks.
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