- Jaxson Dart might soar up draft boards with week: The QB3 spot on this yr’s class seems to be up for grabs, and Dart is definitely within the operating.
- Texas A&M Shemar Stewart will look to solidify his inventory: One of many 2025 NFL Draft’s prime edge defenders nonetheless has loads of room to develop, beginning this week in Cell.
- 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Strive PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and study 2025’s prime prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting in your favourite NFL workforce.
Estimated Studying Time: 10 minutes
The Reese’s Senior Bowl is the unofficial begin of draft season. By the point the week’s festivities start, just one recreation stays on the NFL schedule and 30 of 32 groups have absolutely transitioned to making ready for subsequent yr. For a lot of, this will probably be their first impression of those prime prospects, thus highlighting the significance of the week for the gamers.
It’s essential to notice that this week is far more than a collection of practices in entrance of scouts; the gamers could have workforce features all through the day, led by a group of present NFL coaches, and also will meet individually with groups at night time. Relaxation assured that whereas beat writers will break the information that your workforce is assembly with 4 or 5 key prospects, they’ll really meet with nearly all of them in some style.
The next is a listing of the extra intriguing prospects taking part in Cell, Alabama, this yr. Some are already family names and sure first-rounders, whereas others come from smaller colleges and are comparatively unknown to the general public. The place will every be chosen? Properly, this week will hopefully yield some solutions. No matter faculty manufacturing and present projection, count on the overwhelming majority to listen to their names known as in the course of the 2025 NFL Draft in April; 110 gamers from final yr’s Senior Bowl did, and that type of hit price is changing into the norm for this occasion.
QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
The No. 3 quarterback spot on this yr’s draft class seems utterly up for grabs, so this week in Cell might go a good distance towards settling the pecking order.
Dart tossed 29 big-time throws but additionally racked up 14 turnover-worthy performs in 2024. He flashes the flexibility to ship the ball to all three ranges, however there’s a legit concern that Ole Miss’ vertical-heavy offense doesn’t translate rapidly to NFL methods. Regardless, Dart has good measurement (listed at 6-foot-2 and 225 kilos) and arm energy, and he graded out because the third-best quarterback in faculty soccer when saved clear (behind solely Cam Ward and Shadeur Sanders) — a stat that has traditionally confirmed to be steady.
WR Jack Bech, TCU
The Reese’s Senior Bowl is all the time a terrific showcase for vast receivers, and this yr’s crop is powerful once more. Bech, a former tight finish at present listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 kilos, is a singular prospect price monitoring this week.
Bech was a extremely productive participant whereas working largely out of the slot in 2024, as he amassed 64 catches for 1,042 yards and 9 scores with only one drop. Not solely did he use his body nicely on contested balls (catching 14 of twenty-two), however he additionally impressed along with his after-the-catch skill, displaying quickness and elusiveness whereas forcing 18 missed tackles. He appears like a contemporary massive slot receiver and will probably be coveted by a number of groups.
WR Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
Ayomanor appears like a prototypical NFL receiver at 6-foot-2 and 210 kilos, and he additional impresses along with his pure pace, acceleration and reducing skill. His route operating is great; he runs every little thing at full pace, permitting him to promote routes downfield and hold cornerbacks on their heels to create constant separation. He additionally is aware of tips on how to use his pure measurement and energy to realize positioning out and in of his breaks.
Ayomanor caught 64 balls in 2024 for 862 yards and 6 scores, going 14 for 31 on contested targets. His largest weak point seems to be his fingers, as he dropped a mixed 13 balls over the previous two seasons and too typically let passes get into his body.
The Stanford product ought to shine this week along with his route operating and physicality however wants to point out he can constantly catch the ball away from his physique.
TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Inexperienced
Fannin is likely one of the extra entertaining prospects to observe on movie on this class and has an opportunity to make a reputation for himself this week.
His 2024 manufacturing is simple. Fannin led all tight ends in targets (150), receptions (117), yards (1555) and touchdowns (10), serving as the focus of Bowling Inexperienced’s offense. He additionally graded out surprisingly nicely as a blocker, and the movie matches the grades, as he performs at pad degree and exhibits the physicality wanted to get motion off the road of scrimmage on double groups in addition to preserve second-level blocks.
Nevertheless, regardless of what his manufacturing suggests, he’s a little bit of an awkward-looking runner. Additional, Bowling Inexperienced’s fundamental route ideas recommend Fannin could take a while to adapt to the NFL recreation, making his efficiency this week extraordinarily essential for his draft inventory.
OL Charles Grant, William & Mary
Grant performed left deal with at William & Mary, however at his listed measurement of 6-foot-4 and 300 kilos, he could also be higher suited to play guard on the subsequent degree. Regardless, the Senior Bowl has lengthy been a showcase for small-school offensive linemen, and contemplating the place group as a collective appears weak this yr, Grant could have his alternative to shine.
Grant has a well-built body with spectacular ft when working to the second degree. As is the case with a lot of the category, he might want to enhance his hand utilization and will wrestle in opposition to aggressive, extra bodily defenders. He excelled in move safety in 2024, permitting simply two sacks and 9 complete pressures on 372 pass-blocking reps.
DI Darius Alexander, Toledo
Alexander dominated his degree of competitors and might be one of many actual risers popping out of Senior Bowl week. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 310 kilos, he definitely appears the a part of an NFL inside defender and exhibits the facility to break down the pocket. Along with his energy, he brings shocking quickness and expert fingers, with the flexibility to shed blocks rapidly and win gaps constantly.
He put up a formidable 87 pressures over the previous two seasons at Toledo, and his 27.7% positively graded run-play price ranked ninth within the nation. This week, he’ll get his shot to show he can play as much as the next degree of competitors.
DI Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Nolen was a dominant run defender in 2024, incomes constructive PFF grades on 31.7% of run performs, second within the nation to projected top-10 choose Mason Graham. He additionally tallied 41 pressures, profitable with athleticism off the ball and pure brute energy.
The fascinating factor to observe for in Cell will probably be how Nolen takes to teaching every day. He’s not extraordinarily refined when it comes to hand utilization and approach, typically counting on brute energy and a pure skill to defeat blockers. If he can refine the technical points of his recreation, he might grow to be a wonderful three-down inside defender.
EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Stewart could have many eyes on him this week, as he often is the class of the complete subject. At 6-foot-6 and 290 kilos, he exhibits unusual explosiveness, pace and fluidity, though he’s not a completed product and lacked elite manufacturing at Texas A&M.
He had his greatest yr in opposition to the run in 2024, with an 88.2 PFF run-defense grade whereas grading positively on 23.8% of reps. The pass-rush aspect of his recreation is much less developed, as he managed simply two sacks and 5 hits final season, though he did amass 42 pressures.
Stewart does present the flexibility to defeat blockers with expert hand utilization, size and pure energy, which suggests he has the instruments to grow to be a whole participant. Including to my optimism is his frankly terrifying skill to shut on performs from behind in area, which is harking back to Calais Campbell in 2007 with Miami.
EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
This yr’s Senior Bowl edge group is totally loaded, and Stewart is likely one of the most intriguing prospects due to his versatility. He had a monster season as a pass-rusher for the Maize and Blue in 2024, as he racked up 9 sacks and 10 quarterback hits and ranked third in win price on true move units (40.2%). He was additionally excellent as a run defender, grading positively on higher than 18% of run performs in every of the previous three seasons (with Coastal Carolina in 2022). He obtained no adverse run protection grades in 5 of 11 video games performed this previous season, together with in opposition to Texas and Ohio State.
He exhibits pace and agility off the sting to associate with superb energy, contemplating his body (Michigan listed him at 6-foot-1 and 245 kilos). He additionally flashes the flexibility to show the nook and stack and shed blocks.
Stewart was efficient when requested to drop off the road of scrimmage on passing downs, so don’t be shocked if he will get some work with the off-ball linebackers this week. He will not be thought of among the many elite of the category simply but because of his body, however his manufacturing suggests in any other case, and he might be an enormous riser with an enormous week in Cell.
CB BJ Adams, UCF
A again harm led to Adams enjoying simply 17 snaps within the ultimate 4 video games of his faculty profession, however he nonetheless put up a powerful displaying in 2024. He allowed simply 18 receptions on 37 throws into his protection, with two interceptions and 9 pressured incompletions.
His measurement, size and physicality stand out on movie, at instances to a fault. His aggressiveness makes it troublesome for defenders to separate however may also result in penalties (he had 16 for his faculty profession). He additionally flashes some limitations when it comes to top-end pace, acceleration and agility, which is one thing to search for all through the week in Cell when he’s requested to play off or in zone. That stated, with so many groups dedicated to Cowl 1-heavy schemes, Adams will certainly have scouts’ consideration all through draft season.
S Andrew Mukuba, Texas
Mukuba transferred to Texas in 2024 after three sturdy seasons at Clemson and loved a breakout marketing campaign. He earned the third-highest PFF general grade as a security this previous season, largely because of his prowess in protection. He surrendered simply 11 catches for 77 yards on 24 throws into his main protection whereas racking up six interceptions and 6 pressured incompletions.
Mukuba is an explosive and fluid athlete, capable of constantly make performs on the ball due to his transitional burst. He all the time seems to have a mastery of not simply his workforce’s scheme, but additionally offensive route ideas and methodology. His tackling typically leaves one thing to be desired, however he ought to nonetheless impress this week in protection, which is what the scouts will worth most at his place.
