The 2021 Senior Bowl week has arrived. The NFL world has descended on Mobile, Alabama for a full week of Senior Bowl practice and NFL buzz. Below you can find our Senior Bowl practice reports for every day of practice for the American Team. Of course, the week culminates with the game itself on Saturday from the brand new Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama.
Featured | NFL Draft Prospects 2021: Tony Pauline’s updated big board, player rankings
Pro Football Network has you covered all week, with the latest news, notes, and rumors from around Mobile. This page will be updated throughout the week with thoughts on every player’s performance in Mobile. The PFN Draft Analysts providing the practice reports are:
Tony Pauline – Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Tight Ends
Ian Cummings – Offensive Line, Defensive Line, Linebackers
Jarrett Bailey – Wide Receivers, Defensive Backs
Latest from the 2021 Senior Bowl
Player Measurements | National Team Practice | News and Rumors
Note: Click the tabs that correspond with each day to read the update from that practice.
American Team 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: Quarterbacks
Note: Click the tabs that correspond with each day to read the update from that practice.
Jamie Newman, Wake Forest
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
The day started rough for Newman — his throws were all over the place and you thought, “Oh boy, here we go.” Then BOOM! He turned it around on a dime. Newman made a lot of terrific throws in and out of the pocket. His passes had excellent zip, threw tight spirals, and for the most part, he was accurate. His ability to roll outside the pocket and accurately make the throw downfield was very impressive.
Newman’s play took a big step back today. While he made a few nice throws, for the most part, he struggled with his accuracy, and many of his passes were way off the mark. One pass which sailed high of the receiver ended up as an interception.
This was the worst day of the week for Newman. Early on, he seemingly was unable to read the defense or make a decision. Often at times, he just held on to the ball. Later in the session, many of his passes were off the mark, and he threw another terrible interception.
It was a strange week for Newman based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice reports. He started strong on Tuesday, but by Thursday, he looked ruffled and more like the quarterback who had not played football in more than a year. He possesses the underlying talent to play in the NFL, but needs a lot of work on his game. Come draft weekend teams will grade Newman more on what we saw Thursday rather than what he showed Tuesday.
Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Mond was not as accurate as Jones, but he wasn’t that far off. He’s a superior athlete with a superior arm and really looked good throwing on the move. His passes have terrific speed and Mond got the ball through the tight spots all day long. Want to see a little more touch on throws but it was a real good outing.
I thought Mond took a step back today. While he threw some nice passes and has a next level arm, he was consistently staring down the primary target and was very slow to move his head. This resulted in broken up throws and one INT.
It was an up and down practice for Mond. He made some beautiful throws on occasion, especially between the numbers, then he followed up with wayward passes. Particularly, his tosses out to the flanks. Mond also seems to think too much in the pocket rather than making quick reads and decisions.
Mond’s week can be best classified in one word — inconsistent. He has the arm talent and physical skills to make all the throws in and out of the pocket. He possesses the footspeed to pick up yardage on designed quarterback runs or elude the rush. But his vision, reluctance to look off the primary target and sometimes awful accuracy and pass placement are a red flag. He’s a developmental guy with no guarantee.
Mac Jones, Alabama
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
The class of the quarterbacks today. Made all the passes today putting speed on deep throws and touch on shorter balls. Very accurate and Jones did not make targets work hard to catch the ball. Looked like he was in control all practice long. Had some bad misses, but that was due purely to miscommunication with receivers.
Another terrific day by Jones, who showed complete command and control of the offense. On one seven-on-seven snap, Jones felt the pressure, stepped up to avoid the pass rusher, then delivered a beautiful throw. He was on the money with most of all of his throws all afternoon.
Another terrific practice for Jones. His accuracy and pass placement were spot on, and the timing of his throws was magnificent. Especially, when you consider he’s worked with these pass catchers for only three days. Jones did throw one pick in practice, but that was the only blemish.
Jones had a lot riding on the line when he accepted the invitation to play at the Senior Bowl. If he failed his success last year would have been attributed to the talent surrounding him at Alabama. If he succeeded he proved he made the talent work at Alabama. The end result was far and away the latter based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice reports. Jones was on point all week showing tremendous accuracy and timing throwing the ball to pass catchers who were basically complete strangers. The few times he was off the mark was the result of miscommunication — something that often happens at an All-Star game. Jones may not play in the game on Saturday due to an ankle issue. I can tell you the injury is legit, as late Thursday I saw him limping in the end zone on a play in which he scrambled to avoid the rush. Where does Jones end up in the draft? Not only do I think the first round is in play, but I also think you’ll start to hear legitimate voices contending Jones to be the fourth quarterback off the board as he offers less risk and is definitely more NFL-ready than Trey Lance.
American Team 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: Running Backs
Note: Click the tabs that correspond with each day to read the update from that practice.
Chris Evans, Michigan
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Up until the very end when he had a terrific long run, Evans showed no distinguishable skill or attribute in his ball carrying. It was run into the pile and get tackles after a two-yard gain. Despite this, you can see he has enough short-area quickness and footwork which, if applied, will lead to productive ball handling. On the other hand, he did catch the ball well.
Evans looked much improved carrying the ball today. He was quick and creative, but in addition, he also has a bit of explosion with the ability to power his way on the inside. Evans also has a burst, and like yesterday, he caught the ball well.
Evans started strong with several nice runs as well as showing legitimate next level pass-catching skills. He also held his own in blocking drills.
In 2018, Evans displayed himself as a big time running back prospect. In 2019, he was sidelined with academic issues. In 2020, he was given huge grades by scouts before the season, but was just a situational runner for Michigan. During American Team Senior Bowl practices, he flashed 2018 skills but did not display the every down dominance of that season. Evans did a little bit of everything well this week — running with the ball, catching the pass, and blocking. I don’t believe he did anything to significantly improve his draft stock at the Senior Bowl, but he’ll be a late round steal for the team able to get him back to prior playing form.
Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Mitchell was the best all-around back for the American squad. He powered his way through the middle of the line, caught the ball very well, and looked good in blocking drills. Mitchell displayed a nice combination of quickness and power.
An outstanding showing by Mitchell, who displayed skill as a ball carrier, pass catcher, and blocker. He’s quick footed for a bigger back and gets around defenders, as well as, powering through them. He shows soft hands catching the ball, and Mitchell held his own during blocking drills.
Mitchell was not as active today as the previous two days. He displayed a lot of inside power, breaking tackles or falling forward when tackled.
Entering the week we knew Mitchell was a powerful interior ball carrier. The question was, is he anything other than a powerful ball carrier? Mitchell answered those questions definitively by displaying terrific quickness, footwork, and the ability to sift through the trash. He also caught the ball extremely well all week long.
Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Hill looked a little smaller than I expected, but was also much quicker than I initially gave him credit for. He caught the ball reasonably well and he gave a lot of effort on his carries. That said, he really didn’t show much strength, speed, or the ability to create yardage.
Another impressive outing for Hill. His super quick footwork enabled him to create yardage, and he has a burst which allowed him to get a step on defenders. He also caught the ball well. I was impressed the way he works hard to pick up yardage anytime the ball was in his hands.
Once again Hill looked good. He’s incredibly quick-footed and was able to elude defenders and create yardage. On several runs, he was able to multi-cut and make defenders miss. And just like the prior two days, he looked really good catching the ball.
It’d been a long, strange trip for Hill the past year. Twelve months ago, he rescinded his application to enter the 2020 NFL Draft, only to leave the Mississippi State program three games into his senior season after complaining he was not getting enough carries. He rectified much on the field this week. Rather than being the straight-line ball carrier many perceived, Hill displayer terrific footwork and the ability to create his own yardage. He showed terrific quickness for a 212-pound ball carrier and caught the ball extremely well. He cemented himself as a middle-round choice as we move towards pre-draft workouts based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice reports.
Larry Rountree III, Missouri
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
It was a real good day for Rountree, who was the quickest of the backs on the American roster and showed the best footwork. On multiple carries, he eluded defenders (or made them miss altogether), and he has a nice burst in his game.
Again, Rountree’s foot quickness and ability to make defenders miss was impressive. On one particular play, he set the defender up then had the opponent grasping at air as he darted around him.
This was the best practice of the week for Rountree. He was terrific in blocking drills, caught the ball exceptionally well, and again, had defenders swiping at air as he made them miss. The only aspect missing from his game was power, as Rountree was easily tackled at the point.
Rountree probably impressed me more than any back at the Senior Bowl — he outperformed my expectations based on the American Team practices. He was incredibly quick for a 216-pound ball carrier, and consistently had defenders grasping at air as he made them miss. His blocking and pass catching were next-level worthy. The only disappointment was his inability to break tackles. Rountree has a terrific upside and I believe he significantly helped himself this week.
American Team 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: Wide Receivers
Note: Click the tabs that correspond with each day to read the update from that practice.
Amari Rodgers, Clemson
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Had a drop that was catchable in one-on-ones and had a few that were overthrown. He fought through initial contact well, but he would benefit from a better Day 2.
A much better day from Rodgers on Day 2. He made several tough catches that were drops on Tuesday, including one in which he spun in mid-air to adjust toward the ball. There was another missile thrown into a tight window in which Rodgers dropped to the turf to catch the low ball.
It was more of the same from Rodgers on Thursday based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report. His release at the line of scrimmage was exquisite, he made a few tough catches, specifically one over Mark Webb in one-on-ones. A very good close out to practice for Rodgers.
His release at the line of scrimmage is great. He made getting open look effortless and made a few really solid catches throughout the week.
Austin Watkins Jr., UAB
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Really nice ability to fight through contact at the line of scrimmage and finish the route to still give the play a chance. He had a few moments in one-on-ones showing off his footwork and route running.
Watkins looked good in one-on-ones. He made a nice move that gave him separation and later on made a contested catch over DJ Daniel. His route running is better than average, and he plays bigger than his size.
Austin Watkins had his best day of the week on Thursday. He made a great grab in the end zone through traffic while falling to the turf. He has strong hands and is physical, not afraid to make the tough catches and gain the tough yards. He has turned heads this week with his play — job well done.
One of the biggest risers at receiver. He has a knack to snatch the ball out of the air and win those 50-50 balls. He looked solid out of his breaks and could be a legitimate deep threat at the next level.
Cornell Powell, Clemson
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Powell showed great break at the top of his routes and was very good at exploding to the ball to make tough sideline catches. I was very impressed with the day he had.
Powell made a nice play after catching a pass on a slant, fighting through the initial tackle and picking up extra yards. He also had a beautiful hand swipe on Ifeatu Melifonwu in one-on-ones that gave him separation for a catch.
Powell had a great rep in one-on-ones against Ifeatu Melifonwu. He gave a hard outside jab and hand swipe and broke inside with a ton of separation. He is another one of those guys who utilizes those types of moves to get more room to get in open space.
His short route-running is superb. In short yardage and red zone situations, he can be a guy that you put in the slot and count on to get open to put six points on the board.
Josh Palmer, Tennessee
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Fluid route runner. Had a nice move to the inside that led to a deep catch in one-on-ones. He has very good size that will serve him well at the next level.
Palmer continued to show the great wiggle he has at the line of scrimmage. In one-on-ones, he faked to the outside before giving a quick hip shimmy, breaking inside, and making the catch. He blew by DJ Daniel as well and made a nice over the shoulder catch.
No practice report for today.
Consistently made deep receptions and got open downfield. His shifty footwork and head fakes routinely got him in open space to make deep catches. That could be his niche at the next level.
Kadarius Toney, Florida
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Absolutely electric. Very good upon his release and can gain separation at the line of scrimmage, all while having the ability to make contested catches. He showed all of that off in one play during one-on-ones where he ran a simple “9 route” and made a catch in the back of the end zone.
Not the best day for Toney. I counted three drops overall, and he just looked flat. That’s not to say this will kill his stock because it won’t, just an off day.
Toney’s route running is arguably the best in Mobile. He constantly left guys in the dust in one-on-ones with crisp breaks and great hip movement. The one thing that nagged him, though, was constant bad drops. That is not a stigma he wants to carry with him into the Draft.
Exquisite route running and separation. He had a drop problem throughout the week, though. He will more than likely go at the end of the first round, but he needs to work on making those easy catches.
Marquez Stevenson, Houston
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Showed great speed in one-on-ones, along with the ability to stop and break at the top of his route to gain separation. I see a lot of Diontae Johnson in Stevenson — on the smaller side, but his playmaking ability speaks for itself.
Stevenson had a memorable rep in one-on-ones where he stopped on a dime and broke back to the ball for the catch. He’s shifty and hard to contain in man coverage.
Stevenson showed good patience at the point of attack. He had a rep against Bryan Mills where he took a quick step, waited briefly, and then hit a quick jab inside and made the catch. His change of direction with the ball in his hands is one of his better traits, and he showed that in the one-on-one against Mills.
Stevenson completes his routes very well. He is patient at the point of attack and has quick feet to gain separation at the line of scrimmage. He has the potential to be a solid slot receiver at the next level.
Racey McMath, LSU
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
McMath had a good physical rep in one-on-ones against Hamsah Nasirildeen, but ended up dropping the pass that was thrown. I like the physicality he brings to the table, but his footwork needs work in addition to his hands, as he had multiple drops throughout the drill.
McMath had a touchdown on a shallow cross from inside the 10 in a scrimmage. He had some nice reps on Wednesday, and it was nice to see him get the score to end the drive.
He looked slow today based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report. Ifeatu Melifonwu ate him alive in a one-on-one, he just had no speed to the ball.
It may suit McMath better to shift to tight end. He’s bigger than most receivers and lacks the speed that most have. Shifting him to the end of the line of scrimmage with his hand on the ground would help him in the long run.
Shi Smith, South Carolina
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Shi Smith made a few plays that had some people murmuring. He made a great sideline catch in which he made a mid-air adjustment to complete the catch. He has really good open field ability and is keen on making those 50-50 catches.
Shi Smith continues to impress. He made a spinning one-handed catch during individual drills. Nothing quite as notable as Tuesday’s practice, but he is having a good week.
I may sound like a broken record, but Shi Smith is so fluid in his movements. His breaks are the cleanest outside of Toney, and his wiggle is great for gaining separation. A really good, consistent week for Smith.
Incredibly productive in the deep passing game, and his footwork is very fluid. He raised a lot of eyebrows with some of the catches he made this week.
Trevon Grimes, Florida
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Shifty is the first word that comes to mind when it comes to Trevon Grimes. He pulled the rug out from under a DB in one-on-ones, showcasing his ability to create space. Grimes is a name you will hear a lot of for the rest of the week.
Grimes made a very nice touchdown catch in one-on-ones. Mac Jones threw it low and outside, and Grimes adjusted to it perfectly to haul in the pass in the end zone.
Grimes had a few nice plays today. He had a beautiful toe-tap catch over Bryan Mills with his back to the sideline in the end zone, and made a falling, full extension catch later on in the day, as well. Very good day for the Florida Gator receivers based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice report.
Grimes showed great awareness in terms of his position on the field. On multiple instances, he made perfect toe-drag catches with his back to the sideline.
American Team 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: Tight Ends
Note: Click the tabs that correspond with each day to read the update from that practice.
Kylen Granson, SMU
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Granson had a real solid day. Not special, but he caught the ball well and did a fine job blocking. He was not overwhelming, and lacked the downfield speed of other TEs in attendance, but he had enough juice to make the catch 20 yards off the line of scrimmage. He also worked as a blocker, getting the job done with solid fundamentals rather than brute strength.
Another solid day for Ganson as both a pass catcher and blocker. He showed some speed today, as well as the ability to get downfield. Granson possesses natural pass-catching hands.
This was probably the least productive practice for Granson. He didn’t turn in a poor practice, rather unlike the prior two days, but he did not stand out. He did lose out a couple of times in battles.
Granson had a terrific week of practice. He caught the ball extremely well, did a terrific job blocking, and competed every day. Granson also measured in a little bigger than expected. There is talk in the scouting community he really doesn’t love football, something that’s unbelievable if you watch his film or saw Granson this week. If he continues to check the boxes, I believe Senior Bowl week will help cement him as a mid-Day 3 selection.
Noah Gray, Duke
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Gray made some nice catches but also had a few drops. His blocking was terrible — he got rag-dolled by linebackers in drills. Gray also showed little in the way of speed or the ability to beat opponents downfield.
Gray looked much better today. His pass catching was head and shoulders compared to yesterday. He also gave effort blocking. While he didn’t finish his blocks, Gray was also not getting annihilated at the point as he was on Tuesday.
Gray deserves credit because he competed and gave a lot of effort. Despite this, he was very inconsistent, making a nice reception on one snap then losing out in battles on the next throw.
As I mentioned during the week, according to scouts Gray entered the season ranked as the top senior tight end prospect in the nation and a potential Day 2 selection. He looked more like a late round pick last week based on my American Team Senior Bowl practice observations. Gray dropped too many passes he should’ve held on to. He was also demolished during blocking drills time and time again.
Quintin Morris, Bowling Green
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Bottom line — Morris looked intimidated and overwhelmed. You can see the fundamental athleticism and movement skills are there, as Morris was constantly getting downfield. But he dropped a lot of catchable throws and looked terrible in blocking drills, getting hammered by opponents.
Morris was better, but he still left a lot to be desired. He caught the ball better but still had a few drops. Morris gave effort blocking and blocked with proper fundamentals but could not finish off opponents. On several occasions, linebackers kept their feet, shed his blocks, then made plays on the ball handler.
Morris started strong with a few nice catches but quickly faded. I was surprised how he struggled in battles or coming away with difficult catches..
Over the summer, I graded Morris as a potential fifth-round prospect despite the fact most scouts ignored him. So, it pains me to say his performance last week was disastrous. Morris looked overwhelmed and intimidated. When he showed flashes during American Team practice and you thought he was going to turn his Senior Bowl week around, Morris would drop a catchable pass or was beaten on a blocking assignment. He has the underlying physical skills to play in the NFL, but I believe his performance during American Team Senior Bowl practices knocked him out of late round consideration.
Tre’ McKitty, Georgia
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
McKitty was the American squad’s version of John Bates — caught the ball well, gave defenders hell blocking, but fell way short in the areas of speed and quickness.
McKitty’s all-around performance was even better than yesterday. He was much more dominant blocking and really attacked assignments. He also caught the ball well, and on one snap, got down the sidelines to make a tough grab in a crowd.
McKitty turned in his usual solid day of work. He caught the ball reasonably well and got the job done blocking. One thing he really needs to do is improve his route running as McKitty slows and gathers into breaks.
Though not great or eye popping in any single aspect, McKitty was a prospect you could not help but notice last week. He caught the ball well and on several occasions won out in battles, beating down opponents to come away with the throw. He constantly came out as the winner in blocking battles all week long. McKitty is not fast or overly athletic, but he’s a solid Day 3 selection who will be a good third tight end in the NFL.
American Team 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: Offensive Line
Note: Click the tabs that correspond with each day to read the update from that practice.
Alaric Jackson, Iowa
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Alaric Jackson’s lack of elite length is a definite hindrance, but Jackson nevertheless had a decent day without it. He wasn’t always able to sustain blocks, but he flashed better athleticism than advertised and offered solid power. He continues to trend toward a potential transition to the interior, but through the week, he can reaffirm confidence at tackle.
Against this group of edge rushers, Alaric Jackson’s lacking length is a glaring flaw. Other players have more leverage when swiping at Jackson’s hands, and although he has good natural power, he can struggle to gain clean contact. Even so, with his hand usage, Jackson did his best to compensate for that, and some good reps occurred as a result. He looks more and more like a guard each day.
Alaric Jackson ended his week with an up-and-down performance. The Iowa blocker had a false start early and lost his balance on a few reps. That said, he showed decent absorption ability when going against power, and on one play, he redirected Wyatt Hubert into the dirt when Hubert tried to streak around the edge.
I thought Jackson had a decent week. He wasn’t dominant, but the Iowa tackle had some good reps with his grip strength and power in one-on-ones, and he had some road grading moments as a run blocker in team settings. Jackson has underrated athleticism, and although his length isn’t top-tier, he compensates with his play strength and his ability to absorb. Still in reach of separation, a big game from Jackson could turn his Senior Bowl showing into a definite positive.
D’Ante Smith, East Carolina
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Smith is clearly undersized for the tackle position, and that was the root of a few losses on his part. That said, Smith fared better than expected for his size. He’s a good mover when driving his legs, and he also has impressive upper-body flexibility against powerful defenders. He generally held up in pass protection and carries some upside moving forward.
For another day, Smith fared better than expected with his size. His flexibility amidst power moves showed up again today, as did his energy off the line. Smith also showcased impressive flashes of timing with his hands, at one point moving to push a bending defender into the dirt. Smith’s weight will likely remain a question even after the Senior Bowl, but he’s done better than expected thus far.
D’Ante Smith did not practice on Thursday due to injury.
D’Ante Smith was low-key one of the biggest risers on the offensive line this week. He weighed in under 300 pounds at 6-foot-5, but he also logged the largest wingspan of any lineman at over 85 inches. Smith’s wingspan was as imposing as advertised. The ECU blocker used his length to negate rushes early, and he also showed the exceptional functional athleticism necessary to drive defenders away with his length. He was impressive in both one-on-ones and in team settings, showing versatility at guard and tackle. He only played two days, but he did more than enough to rise.
Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Someone is going to get a very safe offensive lineman in Alex Leatherwood. The Alabama blocker has long been one of the NCAA’s best tackles, and he upheld that reputation on Tuesday. With his elite length, power, and balance in his base, he didn’t allow much penetration at all against opposing defenders. His extensions were lethal, and he also had good leg drive blocking downfield.
Leatherwood had a few hiccups on Tuesday despite relatively solid performance, but on Wednesday, he struggled a bit more. He’s noticeably less than elite when shuffling out alongside the pocket, and although he has a definite degree of power, he might need to keep adding natural strength along with his length. Still, one shouldn’t overreact to a single practice, but Leatherwood’s rough moments put his skills into context.
Leatherwood still got moved a bit easier than desired, but he had a decent day to finish out the week. He displayed better power and drive against linemen, particularly on a rep against Wyatt Hubert, where he used his length to strike the outside shoulder and negate a rush. He generally stayed square against edge rushers and countered bending players well.
At his best, Alex Leatherwood was the player people expected him to be. However, Leatherwood wasn’t always at his best at the Senior Bowl and wasn’t as good as many expected him to be. His elite length helped him a lot, but there were times when Leatherwood got knocked off base easier than expected. The Alabama tackle clearly has immense potential with his length and functional power, but he’ll have to be more consistent on game day. Nevertheless, he had enough good moments to earn some security with his stock.
Ben Cleveland, Georgia
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
The stalwart Georgia offensive lineman got worked backward a little more than expected early on. He had a few nice reps with his power, but his athletic limitations were also made apparent. Unfortunately, Cleveland left practice after suffering an apparent leg injury.
Ben Cleveland didn’t practice on Wednesday after suffering a leg injury on Tuesday.
Ben Cleveland didn’t practice on Thursday after suffering a leg injury on Tuesday and will not appear on the American Team Senior Bowl practice report for today.
Unfortunately, Ben Cleveland’s week in Mobile was cut short by a sprained ankle. In the limited time he had, he didn’t deviate far from the mean. He had some moments where his power and leverage allowed him to hold his ground. However, his balance also proved to be inconsistent at times. Given the lack of volume from Cleveland this week, his stock isn’t likely to change much.
David Moore, Grambling State
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
It wasn’t a seamless transition to a higher competition level by Grambling State’s David Moore. The wide blocker isn’t always the easiest to move by design, but he didn’t have the best balance against longer players. That said, Moore still offered solid leverage and generated movement on a few occasions. Even so, as a lesser-known player, he’ll have to be more proactive to make a name for himself on the Senior Bowl practice report in the coming days.
Moore got chippy with Carlos Basham on a rep, locking arms with the Wake Forest defensive lineman and giving up no ground. The Grambling State lineman brought an attitude to the field on Wednesday, and he also showed solid movement for his size as a run blocker. His balance was somewhat inconsistent, but overall, it was a fairly productive day.
David Moore had some of the most recognizable attitude on the field among offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl. He brings a fighter mentality more often than not. He was one of the few who managed to handle Cam Sample on Thursday, using a stout base and physicality to beat Sample at his own game. Moore also displayed the necessary capacity to extend with resistance. Overall, he had a strong Senior Bowl and boosted his stock quite a bit.
The non-FBS linemen had themselves a spectacular week, and David Moore is included in that group. He’s under 6-foot-2, and he weighs a whopping 350 pounds, but that didn’t stop him from living rent-free in the heads of opposing defensive linemen. Moore came into Mobile and acted like he belonged, combining stout lower body mechanics with leverage, functional power, and a hungry attitude as a blocker. Moore didn’t quite reach the level of Meinerz, but he still helped his stock quite a bit.
Deonte Brown, Alabama
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Deonte Brown didn’t win every rep, but he’s just as powerful as his massive frame advertises. He can be a bit lumbering as a mover, but the Alabama interior blocker has heavy hands and overwhelming grip strength, which he used to get the better of Jordan Smith on one rep. Overall, an expectedly solid day for him..
Brown has good hands and power, but his movement continues to draw questions. He no doubt moves well for a lineman that weighs over 360 pounds. That said, it’s worth wondering if Brown should be playing with that much weight. He’s a good guard no matter what, but he might be able to free up more suddenness and movement freedom at a lower weight. Right now, he’s somewhat lumbering, and that’s contributed to modest inconsistency over the first couple of days.
At his best on Thursday, Deonte Brown was steady and sturdy, and he showed fast feet for his size. Having said that, he got beat a few times by quick, powerful hand swipes from the opposition, and he didn’t always sustain his blocks in the running game. Brown’s Thursday was at worst a slight dip for his record, but he had enough good moments to negate the bad.
Like his teammate Alex Leatherwood, Deonte Brown wasn’t as good as people expected him to be. He had moments that validated preconceived notions, but he also got beat a fair amount by quicker, more powerful edge defenders. The tape always takes precedence, and Brown’s collegiate game tape is good. However, to unearth more of his lateral athleticism, he might need to trim down some weight. At his height, he could healthily play almost 50 pounds lighter.
Jack Anderson, Texas Tech
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
At first, Jack Anderson didn’t stand out a ton. But in full-team drills, he did a very nice job on the interior. The Panthers’ coaching staff had him snapping at center, and he fared fairly well. He did a great job seeking out work in the running game, and he had solid poise in one-on-ones.
I don’t know if Jack Anderson has any elite trait, but he was just solid today. No one ever complains if an offensive lineman is solid. Anderson was authoritative at the point of attack, and although he wasn’t overly explosive or powerful, he won with good urgency, leverage, and grip strength. Anderson might not be a big riser after this week, but he’s solidifying his status as a solid mid-round selection.
Anderson took a couple snaps at center and at least showed some baseline ability. In one-on-ones, he struggled with length and leverage a bit more than usual. Still, Anderson was able to bring his trademark stability at guard in team drills. He didn’t dominate, but it was a reasonably strong finish for a blocker who’s firmly in the middle-round conversation.
As expected, Jack Anderson was good in Mobile. He wasn’t a decisive winner on a rep-to-rep basis, but he did his job more often than not, and that’s what matters most for offensive linemen. With a wingspan of less than 78 inches, Anderson will have to continue to answer for his length deficiencies. Nevertheless, he did that well enough during Senior Bowl week, using good hand speed and grip strength to capitalize on opposing rushers’ exposed surface area. That refined timing and technique is what makes Anderson a high-floor player.
Royce Newman, Ole Miss
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Royce Newman’s athleticism jumps off the field. He clearly has a lot of freedom of movement in short ranges. This helped him to track edge rushers around the pocket. Having said that, Newman can be a bit more composed, and he got knocked off balance on a few reps.
There’s a lot to like with Royce Newman. There were a couple snaps where he lost control with his traits, but he has a great deal of upside, and he’s already relatively polished in his lower body. Newman had a good, active base in pass protection, and he appeared very natural in that phase.
Royce Newman quietly had a very solid final practice at the Senior Bowl. He displayed good balance and recovery versus a speed rusher in Roche, and was also assignment sound throughout the afternoon. He didn’t give up a ton of space, and he has a chance to rise with a good performance on game day.
Royce Newman wasn’t a standout at the Senior Bowl, but he had a decent three-day stretch, nonetheless. He confirmed his athleticism in person, which was one of the most important items on his to-do list. Along the way, he also showed good lower body mechanics and awareness. He can improve his balance moving forward, as that showed up as an issue more than once. Nevertheless, Newman kept his stock stable against a strong interior group.
Trey Smith, Tennessee
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Trey Smith is just too powerful. The Tennessee offensive guard played exactly as advertised today. He was rock solid on the interior, using his functional strength and torque to negate opposing rushes. He even put Iowa defensive lineman Chauncey Golston in the dirt on one rep, beautifully shifting his weight and imposing his will.
After a strong first day, Trey Smith wasn’t as consistent on Wednesday. Carlos Basham dominated in the matchups between the two, getting Smith off balance with lower hands and quicker extensions. Smith still clearly leads the group in terms of natural power, and he stores a ton of potential energy on each play. But he should work to improve his initial placement in the coming days.
Trey Smith rebounded in stellar fashion on Thursday, after taking a step back the day before. There were some instances when Trey Smith struggled to grip his opponent, but overall, it was a good final day. The Tennessee guard flashed a dominant anchor and had an immaculate rep against Basham where he swatted away hand punches and negated his rush with stellar leverage. Smith also redirected defenders well with his power and put a strong cap on his Senior Bowl week.
Like Leatherwood and Deonte Brown, Trey Smith wasn’t quite as dominant as his draft billing suggests he’d be. But Smith was the best of the three at the Senior Bowl, in my opinion. He can do a better job establishing and maintaining blocks with precision, but the Tennessee guard used his trademark power and torque to resist rushes often in one-on-one drills. He also generated movement in team exercises, and again proved that he’s worthy of Day 2 consideration.
Drake Jackson, Kentucky
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Drake Jackson was one of the more underwhelming linemen at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday. He communicates well and has decent leverage, but he’s noticeably lacking physically. His movement was a little choppy, and he struggled to reach full extension against longer defensive linemen. He measured in at 6-foot-2 and under 300 pounds this morning, and his underwhelming size may continue to impede his performance.
Drake Jackson fares better as a run blocker, where his natural leverage serves him better. But more often than not, he underwhelmed again on Wednesday. He’s simply not athletic enough for his undersized frame, and he got pushed around a lot by opposing defensive linemen.
Once again, Drake Jackson was thoroughly outplayed in one-on-ones. He performed better in a team setting, which alleviates some doubt regarding his projection. As a supplementary run blocker, he showed more utility. But in one-on-ones, Jackson proved that when he’s on an island, he doesn’t have the traits to win consistently.
To his credit, Jackson was well-leveraged and assignment sound in team blocking, displaying the awareness necessary to make his blocks and clear lanes. Having said that, Jackson is visibly limited from a physical standpoint, and he was consistently worked through by defensive linemen in one-on-one drills. Jackson’s stock will drop after his showing in Mobile. Especially after other interior linemen like Meinerz and Jack Anderson displayed snapping ability at the Senior Bowl, Jackson’s premium skill set might not have such a low supply.
Dan Moore Jr., Texas A&M
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Both Texas A&M tackles have some measured upside, but Dan Moore was comfortably the better of the two on Tuesday. Moore had solid flashes, showing good extension propensity along with a smooth shuffle. He also had a few nice, powerful punches. Particularly, on one play when going against Carlos Basham.
For the second day in a row, Dan Moore Jr. was the better Texas A&M tackle on the field. Moore showcased impressive hip flexibility for his size when recovering against surging defenders, and he also utilized solid grip strength against William Bradley-King, who wasn’t easy to beat on Tuesday. Moore might be starting to move the needle, in regards to his draft stock.
Moore had a less inspiring day on Thursday. The Texas A&M tackle struggled versus speed on the outside, and he also stabbed his feet a bit when moving laterally. He did have good extension against Basham on one occasion, converting power with that extension. However, Moore wasn’t very consistent and clouded his outlook heading into the game.
Dan Moore Jr. did a better job using his length effectively than Green this week, but he also struggled to stand out amidst his peers. Moore’s movement was streaky at times, and he wasn’t able to compound his forward momentum gained on Wednesday. Moore is adequately dense for his size, and he was able to convert his length into power several times throughout the week. That said, his moving technique needs more refinement if he’s to streamline his physical tools.
Carson Green, Texas A&M
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayAnalysis
Carson Green has some athletic upside, and he also has very long arms, clocking in at 34 inches during weigh-ins. That said, he was especially inconsistent during Tuesday’s practice. He struggled to protect against both kinds of defensive linemen, and was beat particularly decisively by Quincy Roche on one rep. Roche used a combo of misdirection and burst to get Green off-balance, then whisked by him.
Carson Green is another lineman who’s struggled to stand out at the Senior Bowl. On Wednesday, Green had his moments. He combatted hands well on occasion, and he was opportunistic at times. But Green still struggled to maintain blocks, and his feet weren’t great. There aren’t enough good moments to counteract the less inspiring moments at this point.
In team drills, Carson Green fared fairly well, using his length to establish leverage. In one-on-ones, he wasn’t as consistent. His hand strikes didn’t always hit with good solidity, and he struggled to sustain blocks. Green had a decent final day, but it was still up-and-down. A good performance in the Senior Bowl game would help punctuate his week on a high note.
Green comes in near the middle of the pack, along with his Texas A&M teammate. He wasn’t of detriment to his line, but he was still fairly inconsistent. On Thursday in particular, he struggled to strike with solid contact, and balance and block sustainment remained issues throughout the week. Green can move fairly well for his size, and he has solid upside with his physical makeup. That said, he didn’t quite put things together by the week’s end. He’s a player who could potentially do that in the game, however.