The 2024 NFL draft process isn’t just fun, but it’s also complex and in turn, fascinating.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl is the first of many different NFL draft events and it’s arguably the most important of them all. Jim Nagy and his team invite around 120 prospects to Mobile, AL for an all-star week filled with practices, media availability and the game itself of Saturday afternoon.
The most important part of the week for the media is watching practice. It gets everyone, including multiple small school players on the same playing field. The drills allow them to show what they have in one-on-one situations where the best man wins, allowing traits and ability to shine over everything else.
There were plenty of standouts across both teams, including some first round talents like UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu and Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell. While they helped their stocks, this list isn’t going to include players who have been projected in the first round. The real joy of Senior Bowl week is seeing players take a massive step forward in their process.
These 10 players that weren’t projected to be first round picks improved their stocks the most during the week.
Michigan WR Roman Wilson
For my money, Wilson was the best performer at the Senior Bowl. From the second he walked onto the field, he looked different and showed just that. When watching his college film, Wilson was used on a variety of motion to get him up to speed and the question remained whether or not it was due to the offense or his inability to win against press coverage. He answered that question quickly and thrived against everyone he went up against. I currently have a high third round grade on Wilson, but that is likely to rise due to answering one of his biggest questions in Mobile.
New Hampshire RB Dylan Laube
The New Hampshire running back was a very unique player heading into Mobile. He didn’t just play running back well, Laube was also a slot receiver. He told me during media day that his coaches asked him to learn how to play in the slot one spring practice because he already knew the playbook and could be a really big weapon for them.
The biggest question for me was his speed. He looked fast on tape but that can be easy to look fast when you are talking about the FCS level. Laube looked good in all drills this week and proved that he could win with his speed and in the slot.
South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler
Let’s be real. None of the quarterbacks were truly great this week. Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. didn’t do anything to raise their stock but Ratter did. Everyone knew what kind of arm talent he had, but the consistency just wasn’t there. He showed that in droves during practice, making the right decision consistently and flashed the arm talent to make the big boy throws. There was one really bad interception where he didn’t see the robber but one bad play isn’t going to cancel out a lot of good.
Missouri EDGE/DT Darius Robinson
Coming into the week, Robinson had flashed majorly for me when watching his teammate Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Robinson was explosive from multiple alignments, from 3T all the way to a wide nine. He didn’t just prove that he could do that but was both incredibly consistent and explosive on all three days. Robinson enjoys being a versatile chess piece and used his over 35″ arms to wreak havoc all across the line.
For those that are curious, here are Darius Robinson's pass rush win rates from different alignments.
3/4i – 13.0%
5/6 – 18.8%
Wider than that – 19.1%So to me, he's a 6'5" 290lb 5-tech that can play Edge in nickel looks just for fun.
That's the J.J. Watt profile. https://t.co/jzjOipve1c
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 31, 2024
Louisville WR Jamari Thrash
If it weren’t for Wilson, Thrash would have easily been the top receiver in Mobile. After spending time at both Georgia State and Louisville, Thrash developed a reputation as a YAC guy but had some questions if he could deal with physicality considering his slight frame. He caught two deep balls with excellent tracking by fighting down the field fighting through a lot of contact from the cornerback. Thrash is going to be a steal for someone on day two.
UConn G Christian Haynes
The offensive line and defensive line drills were an absolute war. There were some egos that were bruised and nobody bruised them like Haynes did. He showed excellent grip strength and power in dominating his competition. Haynes also made LSU DT Jordan Jefferson so upset that he ripped off Haynes’ helmet and threw it. Of course, it didn’t help that Haynes dropped the Ice Cube line “If you’re scared, go to church.”
Louisville CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
The wide receivers had some really good reps this week, especially when you consider that the drills are built specifically for the receivers to win. Brownlee stood out more than just about every cornerback not named Quinyon Mitchell. The ability to mirror and undercut breaking routes was on full display and impressed, as he did it back-to-back plays on shallow digs. He came in as a likely day three pick but could have worked his way up into a fringe round two guy with a solid rest of the process.
Georgia State OT Travis Glover
Did you know that Glover was on the American roster after the first practice? No? Well, it’s hard to blame you. The Senior Bowl never released anything on social media or the website, but Alex Katson (Chargers Wire) and Devin Jackson (Philadelphia Inquirer) broke the news during practice.
looks like senior bowl added Georgia State OT Travis Glover overnight as an injury replacement without much of an announcement (if any). has looked solid in one on ones this afternoon
— alex katson 🇯🇵 (@alexkatson) January 31, 2024
He only practiced twice but made the most of it. His power and dominant finishing ability was next level. Glover needs some work on his kickstep as he didn’t do that a lot at Georgia State but he could be a day two guy with a continued great process.
Florida State DT Braden Fiske
Fiske’s film really emphasizes his motor and power on the interior. When he engages, Fiske can drive you back and outleverage you. His shorter arms don’t really show up much and they especially didn’t this week as he dominated guys on the interior. Pairing that strength with his motor could end up finding him selected on day two.
Kansas EDGE Austin Booker
Whew was it a week for Booker. After playing less than 600 snaps in his college career across both Kansas and Minnesota, there are and will continue to be questions about what his projection will be. Well, he looked like the most explosive edge rusher on the week and used a bevy of pass rush moves to take advantage of the offensive tackles. If he tests as athletic and explosive as he looks, round one isn’t out of the question for Booker.
