7 Senior Bowl prospects who can raise their NFL Draft stock in Mobile

01/27/2025 11:00 AM

Which Senior Bowl attendees can boost their stock with a good week in Mobile?

It's the most wonderful time of the year, folks.

That's right, draft season is quickly approaching and we've hit Senior Bowl week. One of the premier stops on the road to the 2025 NFL Draft, the weeklong event in Mobile gives guys a big chance to raise their draft stock and boost their chances of getting drafted early. New York Jets EDGE Will McDonald IV played really well and used that week to end up getting drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. We've seen standouts like Philadelphia Eagles' rookie CB Quinyon Mitchell and Los Angeles Chargers WR Ladd McConkey do really well in Mobile, which instantly translated to the NFL level.

This year there are a lot of really fun prospects, especially up front in the trenchers and in the secondary. In a loaded class in the non-premier positions, an event like the Senior Bowl can help launch guys into the earliest rounds of the draft. Here are seven guys who could see their stock soar in Mobile.

Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State

The Seminoles were absolutely horrible last season, so I'm not surprised Thomas is getting the late push. However, he has the athletic tools and ball skills to be a standout corner in the NFL. FSU has put good secondary players in the NFL recently with Renardo Green starring for the San Francisco 49ers and Jarrian Jones playing really well in Jacksonville, and Thomas might be the best of the bunch. Thomas combines length (Senior Bowl listed him at 6'2 and 194 pounds) and impressive ball skills to thrive in press man coverage. The NFL loves athletes who can thrive on an island, and Thomas has all of the ability to at the next level. If he can prove his slighter frame can survive on the outside, we've seen DBs absolutely take over the week in Mobile.

Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

I was really high on Walker entering this college football season, as he combines a MASSIVE frame (6'7, 353 pounds) with some quick feet and an impressive spin move from the DT spot. However, there were games on tape this season where he kind of just...vanished. I have some worries about his smaller lower body and his consistency, but he has all the tools to absolutely dominate in Mobile. He has the power to be a factor against the pass, but also the foot quickness to affect games laterally. Walker has fallen down the draft boards in a loaded defensive tackle class, but can take back some of that attention in Mobile.

Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

Did I tell you this defensive tackle class is loaded? There's a good chance some of these guys fall to Day 2 and end up being steals. I feel that way about Norman-Lott, who might be a little limited in his role but is exceptional at what he does. First off, he's got juice on the interior. He has such an explosive and quick first step that he uses to sidestep offensive linemen, and uses his hands really well in the passing game. Where I'm a bit concerned is in the run game, where he doesn't really anchor, he's more of a gap shooter. However, he's built to win the 1 on 1's in Mobile. Expect to see him pop up on your social media feeds all week.

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

I'm a big fan of Zabel's game. He might be fit for a move inside to guard or center at the next level, but there's no denying his athletic tools. At 6'5 and 304 pounds, he shows a lot of quickness to get to the perimeter, and always wants to finish his blocks. In Mobile, I want to see if he can anchor against the hulking defensive tackles that the Senior Bowl attracted. He's going to go on Day 2, but a good week in Mobile could see his stock soar.

Keondre Jackson, S, Illinois State

Putting Jackson down as a safety might be a mistake, because he's practicing with the linebackers in Mobile this week. However, Jackson is going to be someone I keep my eye on. He's a phenomenal athlete who has no regard for human life as a tackler. We've seen small school safeties come to Mobile and dominate at LB (Marte Mapu comes to mind), and if Jackson can prove he can hang against the backs and tight ends in coverage he could get drafted.

Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

Devin Neal is a delight to watch play football. He's such a shifty back with light feet, but enough power behind his pads to thrive between the tackles. I also think this season he had some nice explosive runs, that showed off his long speed. In Mobile, I'm curious to see if he can add to the passing game. He had 25 receptions this season in Lawrence, but if he can consistently be an option on passing downs as a receiver or blocker, he could turn a lot of heads. This RB class is also stacked, but Neal has the opportunity to show up in a big way.

David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas

Philadelphia Eagles' EDGE Jalyx Hunt had a solid week in Mobile and it helped him get drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Houston Christian. This year's small school EDGE who can stand out is David Walker from Central Arkansas. He's built like an NFL EDGE at 6'2 and 260 pounds, and arguably has some of the best conversion of speed to power in the EDGE class. We've seen pass rushers who win with power thrive instantly in the NFL, and I'm not saying Walker is the same caliber player, but if he can generate some force against Power Four tackles at the Senior Bowl he'll go a lot higher than you think.