For many NFL and fantasy football fans alike, the Senior Bowl marks the official start of NFL Draft season. While major events like the NFL Combine will further shape player values and team evaluations, the Senior Bowl kicks off the three-month-long job interview for many future NFL talents.
“The Draft Starts in Mobile” is a fun promotional pitch, but it rings more true each year. In 2024, 110 players who attended the Senior Bowl were selected in the NFL Draft—accounting for 43% of all draftees. And this wasn’t just a one-off year; the Senior Bowl has now produced four consecutive draft classes where at least 40% of the total selections participated in Mobile just months prior.
This year, I attended the event firsthand. With so many players competing at once, there’s a bit of sensory overload. Still, the coaches and organizers did a tremendous job showcasing each player’s skill set through various drills. The Senior Bowl also offers outstanding access to players, providing multiple opportunities to ask them questions and gain valuable insights.
Every year, certain players rise to the occasion, separating themselves from the pack and boosting their draft stock. Others may not have a flashy week but still do enough to solidify their status as early picks (e.g., Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr.).
Here are some players who stood out as winners, along with a few others to keep an eye on. The NFL Draft has officially started in Mobile.
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Dart was the most impressive quarterback in Mobile, showcasing excellent footwork and a strong arm. He particularly stood out on Day 2, delivering several big-time throws. This year’s quarterback class lacks depth and elite talent, which should work in Dart’s favor. I will be projecting him as a first rounder in my next mock draft. How highly he will be selected remains to be seen, but multiple teams inside the top 10 are in need of a quarterback.
Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State
Gordon weighed in at 233 pounds and looked every bit the part of an NFL back. He has an impressive wingspan and demonstrated his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. There is agility and nuance to his game and he has great feet. The running back group in Mobile was stacked, but Gordon was hard to ignore. He is a Sunday player in a field of potential Sunday players. Expect him to be a Day 2 selection in the NFL Draft.
Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
I had the opportunity to speak with Neal about his playing style and the NFL backs he models his game after. He mentioned two: Joe Mixon and Alvin Kamara. Neal weighed in at an impressive 220 pounds and displayed an elusive yet decisive running style.
He runs crisp routes and showed the ability to be a dangerous weapon in the screen game. There was already significant buzz surrounding Neal in fantasy football circles, and that will only grow after this week. He did enough to solidify himself as a Day 2 pick and ranks as a top 8 running back in this class.
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
Looking for this year’s Bucky Irving? Smith could be that guy. A slot wide receiver at Miami, he transferred to SMU this season and had a significant breakout year as a runner. At around 200 pounds, he was unguardable in one-on-one drills as a receiver. His receiving skills were expected, but he also broke off several long, impressive runs. If there were an All-Senior Bowl Team, Smith would be in strong consideration for one of the two running back spots.
Damien Martinez, RB, Miami
Martinez was one of my guys heading into the Senior Bowl, and everything he did solidified him as one of my favorite prospects to watch in this class. He weighed in lighter than anticipated but was still one of the bigger backs in Mobile. He runs with power, balance, and explosiveness. There are some parallels between his playing style and size with Trey Benson‘s. Like Benson, Martinez should be a Day 2 pick. He is also one of the younger players in the draft class, having just turned 21 while at the Senior Bowl.
RJ Harvey, RB, Central Florida
I really like Harvey. While at UCF, he was a mega producer, amassing over 3,500 total yards and 42 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He is a shorter back but compactly built at 5-7 ½” and 207 pounds. Continuing a trend in this running back class, Harvey showcased great receiving skills.
His production at Central Florida was impressive, and he backed it up with a strong Senior Bowl showing. Tough and physical, Harvey will be a Day 3 pick—but an intriguing one.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
No wide receiver gained more NFL Draft capital over the three-day practice period at the Senior Bowl than Noel. He was sensational. He projects as a plug-and-play slot receiver for multiple teams and showed the ability to play outside as well. A big-play artist at Iowa State, Noel put that skill set on display multiple times in Mobile. Every year, wide receivers perform well at the Senior Bowl and gain momentum heading into the draft. Noel has a real chance to be an early second-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon
Tez Johnson was electric. He stole the show on Day 1 and continued to display his elite separation and quickness throughout the week. Johnson set Oregon’s all-time single-season receptions record and showed exactly why in Mobile.
Some will immediately dismiss him due to his 156-pound frame, but NFL teams won’t. He glides across the field. In recent years, we’ve seen teams embrace low-BMI receivers, from Tutu Atwell to Tank Dell. In today’s NFL, Johnson’s weight matters far less than it did in the past.
Jack Bech, WR, TCU
Jack Bech catches everything—and I mean everything. He made some of the best catches of the week, including the highlight of Day 2: a deep, contorting sideline grab on a throw from Jalen Milroe.
Bech also measured in well at 6-1, 214 pounds. He is a versatile player who can win inside and outside, with exceptional hands and body control. Think Adam Thielen in both size and NFL potential. The Senior Bowl was his coming-out party, and his stock is only going to rise throughout the NFL Draft process.
Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Higgins has great size at 6-3 and recorded the largest wingspan of any receiver at the Senior Bowl measurements. He finished in the top 10 nationally this season in both catches and receiving yards and backed it up with a strong showing in Mobile.
Higgins is a smooth route runner for his size and showcased the ability to be a big-slot receiver at the NFL level. He runs nuanced routes, makes contested catches, and has a strong blend of athleticism and agility for a taller wideout. Higgins should join Noel as a second-round selection in the NFL Draft.
Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State
Williams may have done enough in Mobile to sneak into the third round. At just 5-10, 182-pounds, he isn’t the biggest receiver, but he is quick and showcased impressive downfield speed. He recorded the fastest MPH reading of any WR on Day 1 and backed it up with a strong performance on Day 2.
Over the three-day period, Williams consistently made impressive catches. When you combine his Senior Bowl showing with his production at Washington State (1,196 yards, 14 touchdowns this season), there’s a lot to like about his NFL outlook.
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Royals told me he was playing at only 80-percent after a season-ending foot injury derailed what would have been another massive year at Utah State. Even so, he displayed outstanding physicality and dominated as a route runner underneath.
On multiple plays, he manhandled defensive backs who attempted to press him at the line of scrimmage. It’s easy to see why NFL scouts were high on Royals heading into the Senior Bowl. Physically, he looks the part of an NFL receiver.
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
Arroyo looked and played like a tight end who should be a top-45 overall draft pick. The 21-year-old measured in at 6-4 ½” and 251 pounds. He dominated one-on-one drills, torching defenders, and continued making plays in team sessions.
Arroyo isn’t just shaping up to be most analysts’ third-ranked tight end, but he also has an outside shot at a late first-round selection in the NFL Draft. This was a standout performance—Arroyo has officially arrived.
Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
Simply put, Taylor is a force. He looks like a long-term NFL starting tight end. He stood out in red-zone work and showed impressive agility for his size. Physically, he’s already built to hold up as a blocker and could step into an every-down role early in his career.
Taylor’s father, Jason, was an all-pro defensive end in Miami, and Mason seems poised to follow in his footsteps with a long and successful career.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
I had Fannin Jr. as my third-ranked tight end heading into Mobile, but I’ll have to drop him slightly—not because he struggled, but because Arroyo was exceptional.
With that being said, Fannin Jr. still stood out. He is a natural receiver and showed his skill set during practices. His ranking may shift slightly, but he remains a strong tight end prospect.
Other Notes:
- LeQuint Allen (RB, Syracuse) did enough as a receiver to project as a fourth-round selection. He has a smooth route-running ability and long arms. He didn’t dominate in Mobile, but he helped his stock.
- Xavier Restrepo (WR, Miami) measured in at only 5-9 and was outperformed by others on the first day of practice. He still showed crisp routes but likely projects as a slot-only player at the next level.
- Terrance Ferguson (TE, Oregon) had a solid showing. He has ideal height and displayed a wide catch radius. This tight end class is shaping up to be one of the best in recent years.
- Marcus Yarns (RB, Delaware) could find a fit with a team next year as a pass catching specialist. If you want context with how he stacks up versus previous backs coming out of smaller schools, he is ahead of Dylan Laube as a prospect and could be drafted in a similar range as Isaiah Davis.
- Tai Felton (WR, Maryland) had a very strong Day One. He is a good route runner and has great hands.
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