As quickly as it arrived, Day 1 of 2022 Senior Bowl practice is in the books! Here’s a look at some of the top risers and sliders from the first day of Senior Bowl practice, from NFL Draft Analysts Tony Pauline, Cam Mellor, and Ian Cummings.
Senior Bowl Risers | Day 1
A potential first-round quarterback leads off the top risers and sliders from Day 1 of Senior Bowl practice, but who else makes the initial list?
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
Sam Howell made a big impression today and did so from the get-go. He threw strikes downfield, placing the long ball into his receivers’ hands. He displayed a major league arm while making all the throws, and unlike many of the other quarterbacks on hand, looked smooth and fluid taking snaps under center then dropping into the pocket. — Tony Pauline
Dominique Robinson, EDGE, Miami (OH)
Dominique Robinson came into the Senior Bowl with some of the least name recognition among the edge rushers. He left Day 1 with some of the most buzz. The Miami (OH) pass rusher started the week strong when he measured in with a near 6’5”, 254-pound frame and arms over 33 inches. But he compounded the gains with a stellar first day of practices.
Robinson is long and explosive off the line, with impressive flashes of flexibility. But most impressive was Robinson’s ability to time hand swipes at the apex, then surge inside and capitalize on displacement. He’s still new to the position after transitioning from wide receiver a few years ago, but he’s already morphing into an exciting threat on the edge. — Ian Cummings
Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
Lining up all over the field on defense, Jalen Pitre spent time in nearly every drill. And he looked great in doing so. It didn’t matter whether he was covering receivers from the slot, running backs out of the backfield, or if he was head up on a tight end running a route from the line of scrimmage — Pitre was sticky in coverage.
Pitre also showcased great instincts in the run game and proved to be able to handle blockers on the perimeter. His size will reduce his appeal in the eyes of some teams, but he also was able to show an ability to fight off blocks, and his willingness to get chippy with blockers was apparent. He’s Derwin James, only shorter. — Cam Mellor
Braylon Sanders, WR, Mississippi
Braylon Sanders was a late entry to the Senior Bowl and proved today he was a worthy choice. He was the best receiver for the National Team during the first practice, running terrific routes, catching everything thrown in his direction, and making it difficult for opponents to defend him. On one route, Sanders ran free down the field, but Desmond Ridder never saw him for an easy score. — Tony Pauline
Andrew Stueber, OL, Michigan
Every year, we see certain offensive linemen gain recognition for themselves at the Senior Bowl with steadiness and versatility. Michigan offensive lineman Andrew Stueber is a strong riser candidate in that mold after the first day of Senior Bowl practice.
Stueber was composed and methodical with his hands, locking down several opponents in 1-on-1s. He also showed he could latch onto opponents and absorb power with his frame and length. A right tackle in college, Stueber took snaps on the interior at times on Day 1, proving he can give teams inside-outside versatility at the next level. — Ian Cummings
Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri
You could call Tyler Badie “Alvin Kamara Lite” at this point, as his skill set mirrors that of the New Orleans Saints running back. Badie plays bigger than he stands and has arguably the best vision of any RB in Mobile. He bided his time behind his big offensive line before charging upfield on multiple occasions.
Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
Jermaine Johnson II won against just about everybody on the first day of Senior Bowl practices, but he ran into some trouble when lined up against Braxton Jones. The Southern Utah OT would’ve won on Tuesday simply by showing up and standing strong, but he went even beyond that on some reps.
Jones clearly has NFL tools with his length, power, and athleticism. But he showed off impressive and surprising refinement with his hands at times, stymying rush moves from Johnson and suffocating pressures. It was a big day for Jones, who not only arrived but announced his arrival with several dominant reps. — Ian Cummings
Danny Gray, WR, SMU
Danny Gray was one of the players on hand who performed much better than I expected. He was faster and able to separate easier than I thought, and caught the ball extremely well. On multiple occasions during 1-on-1 drills, he left opponents in the dust for big plays down the field. — Tony Pauline
D’Vonte Price, RB, Florida International
Coming in with little known on him from the general public, D’Vonte Price put the world on notice after Day 1. He was quick to find holes in the line and even quicker to take the ball upfield. Price was incredibly shifty, and it was evident that he has incredible elusiveness. He lost no speed through his breaks and even seemed to accelerate through his cuts.
Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana
Weigh-ins weren’t kind to Max Mitchell, who measured in under 300 pounds when he arrived at Mobile. But Mitchell quieted the concerns surrounding his size with a strong showing on Day 1 of the Senior Bowl.
He was visibly physical on the American Team’s offensive line, showing no hesitation in finishing off opponents who sacrificed their balance to try and bend around the edge. Mitchell’s mauler mentality shines on the field, but his athleticism is just as impressive. He gets off the line quickly and is a very smooth mover in the open field. It’s fun to think about the upside with Mitchell because even at 299 pounds, he’s an enticing prospect. He proved that on Day 1. — Ian Cummings
Senior Bowl Sliders | Day 1
While no one player had a bad day overall, a certain position group struggled to stand out.
Tight ends can improve on Day 2
With such an immense group of talented playmakers, the tight end group was largely disappointing. There was a flash from Grant Calcaterra in the receiving game, and Greg Dulcich was great with his run blocks. But overall, this group largely was less impressive than the group at the Shrine Bowl just days prior.
Having been in attendance at both events, it was clear that the Shrine Bowl group of tight ends stood out among their peers. The Senior Bowl group blended in, faded away, and ultimately will need to do more through the rest of the week.