MOBILE, Ala. -- Senior Bowl practice week is my favorite event on the NFL calendar.
Padded sessions. Pro coaching. One-on-one periods. Real football. No 40-yard dash times or 3-cone drills. Instead, you get to see draft prospects compete on the field, and that gives us an early start on this upcoming rookie class.
Sure, there is a lot of time left in this draft process and more tape to study. But after taking in these Senior Bowl practices, I've identified 10 prospects -- in no particular order -- we can put on our early fantasy radar in both redraft and dynasty formats.
Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
At 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, Edwards is a rapid accelerator with the ball in his hands. He can scoot, now. There's a reason why he had 41 rushes of 10-plus yards during his Michigan career. Edwards used the week in Mobile to elevate his profile as a receiving back. I was impressed with his ability to win matchups against linebackers in one-on-one pass drills. He is quick to change directions, leaving the defender in a trailing position, and has the skills to fit in a rotational role as a rookie. That puts him on my list as a target in redraft leagues.
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
Arroyo had an excellent week in Mobile, displaying his ability to separate on seam balls and corner routes, while also working the middle of the field with his 6-foot-4, 251-pound frame. Arroyo, who had 35 receptions and seven touchdowns in his final season at Miami, is an easy mover in the route tree, as he sets up defensive backs at the break point to create separation. I see a top-50 player here who can boost his draft stock even more with his testing times at the combine. You can keep Arroyo on the radar as a potential redraft target in 2025, because he has the traits to produce as a rookie.
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
Smith was one of my favorite prospects to watch on the practice field. A converted wide receiver who played three years at Miami, Smith shouldn't be viewed as a downhill hammer in a pro offense at 5-9, 195 pounds. But he is an explosive mover -- with big-play juice -- who can get up to top speed in a hurry. In his final season at SMU, Smith had 35 rushes of 10 or more yards, and we already know about his receiving traits. He displays matchup ability on backfield releases or when aligned as a potential slot target, and I think he can be deployed like De'Von Achane in the right pro system. Smith is a redraft target who can be schemed to produce as a rookie.
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
A smooth and fluid mover in the route tree, Royals was the top receiver I saw in Mobile. Though he isn't a burner and he might lack elite short-area speed, Royals plays with excellent coverage awareness, and he is physical after the catch. At 5-11, 210 pounds, Royals will compete for the ball in tight windows, and I see him as a volume target who can work short-to-intermediate routes -- from wide and slot alignments -- in the pro game. Royals is a potential redraft target if he is selected by a team with an opening at the No. 3 WR spot.
Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
At 6-5, 250 pounds with good linear speed, Taylor flashed often during one-on-ones and team sessions. Taylor made plays in heavy traffic and he showed his catch radius down the field, which led to his 12 contested catches during his final season at LSU. I can see pro teams deploying Taylor as a big slot target when flexed from the formation to stretch the middle of the field, and he also can be isolated in the red zone. Like Arroyo, Taylor improved his stock in Mobile, and he has redraft upside depending on where he lands in the draft.
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Dart settled in as the week progressed and he has the throwing traits to operate in a pro system. Dart can turn up the RPMs on intermediate passes to the middle of the field, while delivering the ball with both pace and touch to target-zone windows. Plus, he has enough movement traits at 6-2, 226 pounds to attack the edges on boot plays. I see an instinctual thrower who will need some time to transition from his college offense. But Dart is an accurate passer who fits in a play-action based NFL scheme. Think dynasty-league target here.
Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
Etiennet has the sudden, stop/start speed to slip tacklers and get through the wash. He's quick and displays his ball-carrier vision, but what impressed me most was his skill as a pass catcher. Etienne beat linebackers in coverage routinely during one-on-ones, and he made it look easy. At 5-8, 202 pounds, Etienne has redraft potential due to his dual-threat ability out of the backfield.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Fannin was incredibly productive in his final season at Bowling Green, catching 117 passes, including 10 touchdowns. At 6-3, 238 pounds, Fannin projects as a "move" tight end in the league, with the formation flexibility to align in multiple spots, including backfield sets. Similar to how Jonnu Smith is schemed in the Dolphins' offense, Fannin has the traits to see the ball as a three-level target, with the catch-and-run skills to get loose on screens and under routes. There's a lot of potential here for a prospect with the versatility to post numbers as a rookie, making him an intriguing redraft option.
Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami
Restrepo can get loose against man coverage. That's the first thing I wrote in my notes on Day 1 of the Senior Bowl practices. Sure, Restrepo might lack top-end speed, I get it (and he's 5-9). But I tend to focus on the ability to get open when watching wide receivers, and Restrepo has the quicks to shake defenders. This is a prospect who can make himself available to the quarterback, and that gets you reps in the league. More of a dynasty target at this point, Restrepo needs a system that will utilize his route-running and toughness out of the slot.
Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon
Johnson's 5-9, 156-pound frame does create some concerns for me when projecting his ability to play though contact off the release against NFL defensive backs. That's fair. But he has the vertical speed to test the third level of the defense. He can go. Johnson plays with the lateral juice to evade coverage. A dynasty target at this stage, Johnson caught 20 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Oregon.