Super Bowl 58 is a big game for two NFL teams. Senior Bowl is a huge week for all 32 teams. Once again, practices leading up to Saturday’s annual post-college all-star game in Mobile, Alabama, shed light on how many good pro prospects there are three months before the 2024 draft.
The Senior Bowl used to be just for upperclassmen, but as it has become a showcase for other upperclassmen, it has taken on greater importance as the unofficial kickoff to the league’s pre-draft process, long before the NFL Combine and professional days.
Here we take stock of which players helped themselves the most and which ones could face a slide down based on their performance in practice over three days:
MORE DRAFT: SN’s latest drill | Updated top 100 rankings
Senior Bowl promotions for 2024 NFL Draft
Michael Penix Jr., quarterback, Washington
SN Draft Pre-Senior Bowl Rankings: No. 21 Overall
Penix wasn’t necessarily spectacular with its overall reviews, but it didn’t need to be. He continued to show off his big, strong arm along with good deep accuracy that led the Huskies to the CFP title game. He cemented his position as a first-rounder.
Brenden Rice, WR, USC
SN Draft ranking prior to Senior Bowl: No. 57 overall
Rice came in with no hesitation about his hands, his quickness and his quickness. GOAT Jerry Rice’s son, accompanied by his father, managed to better utilize his size (6-3, 217) to improve route running and body position.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
SN Draft ranking prior to Senior Bowl: No. 55 overall
McConkey came in with soft, reliable hands and didn’t give up while showing great quickness and decisiveness on his route. He showed how smart he is to overwork cornerbacks and get open consistently.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, G, Oregon
SN Draft Rankings Pre-Senior Bowl: No. 60 Overall
Powers-Johnson lived up to the first half of his hyphenated last name and then some, with smooth athleticism, quick feet and balance to go along with his strong physical blocking. Since he can start at guard or center right away, he should advance well into the second round, with an outside in the first before the process is complete.
Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
SN Draft rankings prior to Senior Bowl: Not in top 100
Imagine Powers-Johnson and Hall increased their stock by chasing each other in drills. There was a question about where Hall best fits on a defensive line, but that was answered with his quickness and quickness on the interior, suggesting a good pass rush. Hall was a tough tweener to evaluate, but now he belongs in strong consideration for Day 2 (second and third rounds).
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
SN Draft ranking prior to Senior Bowl: No. 44 overall
Mitchell was tested in practice in coverage and continued to make big plays by staying close to receivers whether running deep or in the slot. He’s sneaking into the first-round conversation from a loaded position early on.
Senior Bowl failures for the 2024 NFL Draft
Bo Nix, quarterback, Oregon
SN Draft Rankings Pre-Senior Bowl: No. 25 Overall
Perhaps there were high expectations, given Nix’s accuracy and the Ducks’ arm combination, that he would be consistently sharp. But there was a clear sense of discomfort when working with new targets and relatedly, failures to connect with bad pitches. Nix recovered later in the week, but in a tight QB race for first-round coverage picks, he slipped a bit.
Sam Hartman, quarterback, Notre Dame
SN Draft rankings prior to Senior Bowl: Not in top 100
Hartman showed some grit in passing and running in Mobile, which wasn’t unexpected considering his makeup while leading the Fighting Irish. Unfortunately, his play was inconsistent and he barked more than he bit. He can still be a solid backup in the NFL, but now a positive option like South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler looks more appealing later in the matter.
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
SN Draft Pre-Senior Bowl Rankings: No. 47
Legette has great size (6-3, 227 pounds) and speed, but issues with consistency catching the ball and running routes were evident immediately. He has some Puka Nacua qualities, but right now he’s struggling to not be a boom-or-bust Gabe Davis type.
Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
SN Draft ranking prior to Senior Bowl: No. 53
Walker was another speed and quickness receiver who struggled to show a well-rounded game in Mobile, where route running and separation became issues against tougher corners. A team will have to be patient with him down first while using him as a specialized big-play threat.
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
SN Draft Pre-Senior Bowl Rankings: No. 41
Guyton is polarizing as a prospect because looking at his natural tools of power and explosiveness, his advantage in pass protection is clear. But he also showed that he needs more work to polish the finer aspects of blocking.
McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
SN Draft ranking prior to Senior Bowl: No. 76
Jackson has a beefy nose, but he was pushed a little in blocking drills and also paled in comparison to Hall and Texas’ T’Vondre Swift, who stood out so much. Like Guyton, he has talent, but will need some refinement to be more than a rotational defensive option.
