Six biggest NFL draft risers at the Senior Bowl

Senior Bowl practices concluded in Mobile, Alabama, on Thursday. These six players helped their draft stock the most this week:

Weidl's list

1. Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington

The secret has been out on Kupp for a while, but this was still a big week for his draft stock. The biggest question coming in: Could he separate against top-tier defensive backs? He stood out from Day 1 of practices and maintained his momentum all the way through. A lot of FCS receivers have issues beating press coverage at the next level because it's not something they see often. Kupp had no such problems. When he was challenged, he showed great feet and hands while getting off the line of scrimmage and impressive savvy as a route runner. I also left Mobile impressed with his play speed. He's not going to light up the 40-yard at the combine, but he's fast with pads on. Kupp had the best week of any Senior Bowl player. I wouldn't be surprised if it propels him to being a top-50 pick.

2. Nathan Peterman, QB, Pitt

Peterman's five-touchdown game against Clemson put him on the national stage, but as a draft prospect, he was a bit of a mystery coming into the week. Peterman turned out to be the best quarterback at the Senior Bowl by a comfortable margin. He showed a lot of important traits: He's light on his feet, his drops are smooth, he has a quick delivery, he's accurate and he gets through full-field reads without a hitch.

The biggest negative that popped up is Peterman's lack of elite arm strength. His deep ball hung in the air at times, which makes you wonder whether he can stretch the field consistently in the NFL. But this isn't a great quarterback class, and he certainly did much more to help himself this week. By the time April's draft rolls around, I think he could be right there with Miami's Brad Kaaya as the fourth-best quarterback in this class. The third round would be a good target for him.

3. Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

We knew Reddick was explosive: He played an edge-defender role at Temple and ranked third in the FBS in tackles for loss last season. Because of his size (6-1½, 238), he's not a great fit to exclusively play that position in the NFL. So this was a big week for Reddick to prove he could handle holding up in space as an off-linebacker. He showed great athleticism, particularly in coverage. He had no problem matching up with running backs out of the backfield in one-on-one drills. Reddick also reminded teams that he can still make an impact as a situational edge-rusher, racking up a strip sack on Thursday. Simply put, his versatility stood out. Reddick is now a mid-round guy in my book -- early Day 3 or late Day 2.

Muench's list

1. Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo

Hunt had the best week of all the running backs here. He made it clear that he will be an asset on third down at the next level. His receiving skills jumped out. He doesn't tip his hand as a route runner, and he keeps linebackers off balance with fakes and changes in tempo. Hunt also showed he's comfortable catching the ball in stride and even snagged a one-handed grab. He struggled as a pass-blocker on Tuesday, but as the week progressed, he looked much more comfortable, which speaks to his ability to absorb coaching and make quick improvements. As a runner, Hunt has the quickness and hard-nosed style you look for. Even in this deep and talented running back class, he solidified his position as a late Day 2 pick with his play this week.

2. Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina

No one questioned Jones' production after he led the FBS in receptions (158) and receiving yards (1,746) this season. The concern was that Jones was a product of East Carolina's spread-heavy, quick-passing system. He did everything in his power to ease those concerns with his performance in Mobile. He showed great burst off the line and the long speed to take the top off defenses. This is a true big-play threat both on vertical passes and underneath throws, where he has the burst to gain chunks of yardage after the catch. We still need to go back and watch more of his film from this season to see exactly where he slots in the draft, but it's clear Jones helped his cause this week.

3. Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy

Early in the week, Garcia got caught lunging a few times during one-on-one drills and it cost him. More than anything, that was a product of his shorter arms (just under 33 inches). What was impressive, though, was how he adjusted as the week went on. He showed the ability to stay back, get his hands inside and lock on to defenders. And he's athletic enough to stay in front when the defender tries to change direction.

In the run game, Garcia flashed a nasty disposition. He plays with tenacity and anger, which teams love in their offensive linemen. Garcia isn't a finesse guy, so you don't worry about him moving to guard if that ends up being his best fit. The agility drills at the combine will be his next test. Even if he doesn't shine there, he proved this week that he has the skill set to play tackle in the NFL. That's important for his stock, given how thin this OT class is.

Honorable mention

Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn
Alex Anzalone, LB, Florida
Dion Dawkins, OG, Temple
Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia
Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State
Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa
Larry Ogunjobi, DT, Charlotte
Caroll Phillips, OLB, Illinois
Ethan Pocic, OG, LSU
Duke Riley, OLB, LSU
Cameron Sutton, CB, Tennessee
Stevie Tu'Ikolovatu, DT, USC
Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA
Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU