The Reese’s Senior Bowl is more than a college all-star game — it’s a proving ground for N.F.L. hopefuls and a crystal ball for scouts, coaches and draft analysts. As the 2025 NFL Draft cycle begins to heat up, this event in Mobile, Alabama, is already starting to mold narratives for next year’s class. From breakout performances to lingering question marks, here’s the buzz so far from practices, interviews and insider conversations that could reshape the draft board.
Rise of the Quarterbacks
Under-the-Radar Passers Who Are Turning Heads
Even if the 2025 quarterback class doesn’t have a slam-dunk “generational” prospect like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, a number of under-the-radar QBs are using the Senior Bowl to hoist themselves into Day 2 or even late-first-round consideration.
Michael Penix Jr. (Washington): Arm talent isn’t a question for Penix, even with injury history. One AFC executive noted: “His throws outside the numbers are NFL-ready. Scouts went crazy over his deep-ball accuracy Tuesday in practice. “Absolute steal outside the top 10 if he stays healthy.”
Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss): The athletic Dart has been compared to a young Baker Mayfield for his improvisational ability. His ability to extend plays and succeed under pressure also shined in team drills, but his pocket decision-making in tight windows is still a work in progress.
Riley Leonard (Notre Dame): Teams are buzzing about Leonard’s raw tools, like a cannon arm and 4.5-speed. “He’s a developmental project but his ceiling is sky-high,” said a NFC scout.
The Battle for QB3
With Carson Beck (Georgia) and Quinn Ewers (Texas) widely viewed as QB1 and QB2, the Senior Bowl is crucial in making it a solid QB3 as it pertains to prospects like Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Kansas’ Jalon Daniels. Gabriel has been accurate on short-to-intermediate routes, while Daniels’ dual-threat versatility gives defensive coordinators a nightly assignment.
Rising Stars on Defense
Edge Run with Impunity in the Trenches
Pass rushers tend to thrive in Mobile, and this year’s crop does not disappoint. There’s first-round buzz on two names:
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee: Pearce’s J.J. Watt-esque first step and bend around the edge make scouts drool. He routinely dominated the top-level tackles in 1-on-1 drills, with one coach joking, “He’s a walking holding penalty.”
JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State): No one’s stock has skyrocketed like Tuimoloau’s, and it’s mostly been due to a blend of power and technique. His bull rush demolished several guards in Wednesday’s session, showing he’s more than a speed rusher.
Cornerbacks in the Spotlight
As NFL teams are valuing length and ball skills, two corners are definitively rising:
Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame): Morrison did well enough in zone coverage that Patriots scouts were raving about his fluid hips and instincts. He has the frame (6’1”) and arms (33-inch) to be a prototype outside corner.
Denzel Burke (Ohio State): Burke’s toughness and physicality at the line of scrimmage gave receivers problems all week. “He has that Sauce Gardner kind of aura, the way he just doesn’t allow himself to get beat,” said an NFC East area scout.
The Linebacker Wild Card
Dallas Turner (Alabama): Turner has smoothly made the switch from edge rusher to off-ball linebacker, with that coverage range and tackling efficiency. “He’s a three-down weapon,” a Lions coach said. “Make no mistake, you can put him anywhere.”
Quiet Prospects Making Some Loud Noise
Small-School Standouts
The Senior Bowl has a proven history of lifting prospects from non-Power 5 programs to the next level, and this year’s group is no different:
Isaiah Davis (RB, South Dakota State): The 220-pound bruiser with a surprising amount of agility has drawn comps to Jamaal Williams. His pass-catching reps quieted worries about his third-down usefulness.
Javon Solomon (EDGE, Troy): Solomon was the FBS leader in sacks (16) in 2023, and this week his spin move had SEC tackles swiping at air. “He’s this year’s Will McDonald IV,” a Jets scout said.
Evans and Other Wide Receivers Zooming Up Boards
These names are trending due to spring breakout performances in a loaded WR class:
Evan Stewart (Oregon): Stewart’s polish in route-running and contested-catch ability has teams labeling him a “poor man’s Marvin Harrison Jr.” His 4.38 40-yard dash (per practice timers) didn’t help.
Jalen McMillan (Washington): McMillan’s fit in the slot and short-area dead-body drops on option routes lend him Day 2 stealing potential.
O-Line Gems
Cooper Beebe (OG, Kansas State): Beebe’s mauler mentality and anchor strength make him a plug-and-play guard. He did not allow a pressure in team drills.
Kingsley Suamataia (OT, BYU): Scouts are buzzing about Suamataia’s footwork and 6’6”, 325-pound frame and his potential at left tackle.
Key Takeaways and Lingering Questions
Who’s Falling?
Tyler Van Dyke (QB; Miami): Van Dyke’s inconsistent accuracy and slow processing highlight red flags. “He’s a practice squad guy right now,” one scout bluntly concluded.
Malachi Corley (WR, Western Kentucky): Few wideouts in this class give me more pause than Corley, who has a limited route tree and can drop catchable passes in traffic. His YAC ability might keep him off Day 3, but he appears headed to being an early day three pick.
Teams to Watch
The Chicago Bears (via CAR) have scouted more QBs than any other team, hinting at a potential successor to Justin Fields.
The Las Vegas Raiders brought a contingent to check out edge rushers, a signal that they may replace Maxx Crosby long-term.
The “Sleeper” to Know
Monitor Jared Wiley (TE, TCU). Standing 6’7” with soft hands, he’s been compared to Dalton Kincaid and could be a mid-round find for TE-needy squads like the Bengals or Chargers.
The Draft Is Taking FormConclusion:
Though the 2025 NFL Draft is more than a year out, the Senior Bowl has already changed the discussion. From small-school risers to blue-chip defenders affirming their stock, Mobile has once again made clear that it’s the ultimate audition for NFL futures. As one seasoned scout put it, “Tape doesn’t lie, but Senior Bowl screams it.”
Now the countdown to Detroit — and the next generation of N.F.L. stars — officially begins for teams and fans alike.