The week of practice ahead of the 2019 Senior Bowl has come to a close.
NFL draft experts Todd McShay and Steve Muench break down how the best prospects in attendance fared, how the eight quarterbacks performed in Mobile, Alabama, which under-the-radar prospects helped themselves this week with strong performances, and more. Quarterback rankings are updated following the week of practice, and grades are via Scouts Inc.
Quarterbacks | Draft risers | Raised questions | Scouting notes
Day 1 recap | Day 2 recap
How do the eight Senior Bowl quarterbacks emerge following this week?
Drew Lock, Missouri
Team: North | Uniform: 3 | QB ranking: 3 | Grade: 83
Lock had his best day of the week on Thursday. He was in control and looked good in the red zone. He needs to get a little more consistent with anticipatory accuracy and decision-making, and he needs work on touch throws and when throwing on the move, but his trajectory and ball placement on the deep ball are outstanding. One note from earlier this week, though: His 9-inch hands will be a concern when it comes to ball security, pump fakes and handling poor weather. -- McShay
Daniel Jones, Duke
Team: North | Uniform: 17 | QB ranking: 4 | Grade: 82
Jones had a really tough afternoon on Thursday to cap off a subpar week. He had some issues handling snaps from his center out of the shotgun, fumbling three times (two of which he should have handled), and Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden was on him about a lack of command in the huddle and playcalling verbiage mistakes. Still, the Duke signal-caller shook it off, processing the defense quickly. He doesn't get great zip on the ball, but he has a feel for trajectory. He did a lot of positive things over the three trips to the practice field this week, but he did not look like a first-rounder to me. -- McShay
Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Team: South | Uniform: 8 | QB ranking: 5 | Grade: 80
This riser had his best outing yet on Thursday, excelling in the red zone and on third down. I like his pocket presence a lot, and there's no denying the strong arm and smooth stroke. He was fitting the ball into tight windows in the red zone, something he has improved on throughout the week. -- McShay
Ryan Finley, NC State
Team: North | Uniform: 15 | QB ranking: 6 | Grade: 79
The Senior Bowl was never going to be a place for Finley to shine with just an adequate arm and decent mobility. But he processes the play quickly and plays with good anticipation, hitting his timing throws. I just wanted to see him let it rip a bit more this week -- he played it safe a lot with a good chunk of checkdowns. He has the potential to be a good backup in the NFL, and perhaps become a starter in the right system. -- McShay
Will Grier, West Virginia
Team: South | Uniform: 7 | QB ranking: 7 | Grade: 75
Grier made some good throws this week and flashed his potential at times. And he looked all right on drops from under center over the course of the week, which is a new concept to him. But Grier definitely seems to hold the ball too long, and his accuracy needs to improve when he's forced to move off his initial spot. He is locking onto his primary target too long at times. I think at this point he grades as an above-average backup who could develop into a starter down the road. -- McShay
Trace McSorley, Penn State
Team: North | Uniform: 9 | QB ranking: 9 | Grade: 57
On Thursday, McSorley made some real good throws on the move. Gruden seemed pleased, but he also seemed to be coaching the other three North QBs a little harder. The PSU quarterback lacks ideal arm strength, limiting the throws he can make, but he showed good ball placement this week. He was also the smallest of the eight Senior Bowl quarterbacks (6-0¼, 200 pounds) with a below-average hand span (9.25 inches). -- McShay
Gardner Minshew, Washington State
Team: South | Uniform: 16 | QB ranking: 10 | Grade: 50
Minshew was sharp down in the red zone on Thursday, and he sure seems to be at his best in tight quarters. He excels in making quick reads and making anticipatory throws rather than forcing the ball vertically. On Wednesday, he struggled a bit throwing downfield in the swirling wind. He's a rhythm thrower who can throw his receivers into an open window. -- McShay
Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
Team: South | Uniform: 3 | QB ranking: 11 | Grade: 46
Jackson's highlight reel would have been the most spectacular of the group, but he remains inaccurate. He still needs work on reading defenses and improving the consistency of his footwork. He has a long-levered delivery and is heavy-footed on drops. But I will say this about the 6-foot-7 quarterback: He has a rocket arm. -- McShay
Which prospects' draft stock rose the most this week?
Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Team: South | Uniform number: 1
Samuel excelled in red zone on Thursday, getting quick separation. In all, he was consistently outstanding all week long. Just quick off the line and displaying the ability to get vertical. If he stays motivated and in great shape in the NFL, he can have a long career as a high-level starter. In the short term, I don't see a way that he slips out of the first two rounds. -- McShay
Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
Team: South | Uniform number: 9
At 6-6 and 252 pounds, Sweat is an explosive speed rusher who is strong enough to go through offensive tackles and athletic enough to work the weave when they take away the edge. He is on the leaner and lighter side for a defensive end, yet he's stout setting the edge against the run. He gets off the ball, he shoots his hands inside and he has the length (35⅝-inch arms) to keep blockers off his frame. -- Muench
Penny Hart, WR, Georgia State
Team: North | Uniform number: 18
Hart is undersized out of the slot at 5-8 and 180 pounds, but man, is he ever lightning quick. He just gets off the line of scrimmage so fast and then separates with his ability to explode out of routes. If you don't press this guy, he's gonna wreak havoc. On Thursday, he once again made a lot of tough catches in traffic. Of note, he also looked natural fielding punts. Hart might have worked himself into a Day 2 pick this week. -- McShay
L.J. Collier, DE, TCU
Team: North | Uniform number: 91
Collier has excellent length (34¾-inch arms) and carries his 6-2, 280-pound frame well. He's an overpowering pass-rusher who put Kansas State' Dalton Risner -- who had a strong overall week -- on the ground rushing off the edge on Monday, and then did the same to Charlotte's Nate Davis when he kicked inside during one-on-one drills. -- Muench
Which prospects raised more questions than answers with their performance this week?
Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
Team: South | Uniform number: 38
This highly ranked safety failed his physical, so he will need to get that handled. He will be medically checked at the combine and then again at medical rechecks in early April. NFL teams will also have their medical staffs look at him individually. Abram is a top-40 talent and really broke out this year, so it will certainly be something to watch. -- McShay
Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
Team: North | Uniform number: 44
After getting off to a promising start to the week, measuring 6-4 and weighing in at 280 pounds with 34½-inch arms, Allen didn't practice as well as we expected. The Raiders' coaching staff frequently lined him up on the inside, and he leaned on his power rush with limited success. But the approach and results were similar when he rushed off the edge. One week doesn't define a player who finished his career with 40.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks, but teams are likely to take a closer look at his tape following his performance. -- Muench
Any additional thoughts from the week?
McShay:
I was really impressed with Kentucky's long corner Lonnie Johnson Jr. this week. He laid out Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow on a screen on Thursday, and he has been strong in press-man all week. He brings a real physical edge and I think he'd be a perfect fit in a Seattle-like defense. He made money this week.
A lot of small school offensive linemen impressed against the big boys this week. Olisaemeka Udoh (Elon), Nate Davis (Charlotte), Tytus Howard (Alabama State) and B.J. Autry (Jacksonville State) all did positive things.
Oshane Ximines of Old Dominion has some technique work to refine, but he's an explosive edge rusher. And he has more power than his frame indicates. He and Sweat were the clear-cut best edge rushers here this week. (Collier is a combo inside-outside guy.)
Muench:
The tight ends had a strong overall week. Boston College's Tommy Sweeney and Washington's Drew Sample are Y tight end prospects with the frames to develop into competitive in-line blockers and the hands to develop into reliable safety valves. Utah State's Dax Raymond is an intriguing F tight end with big hands and a good blend of speed and athletic ability. He made a contested catch underneath on Thursday and did a nice job of settling into a pocket on his touchdown catch during the red-zone period. It's shaping up to be a deep tight end class considering none of the top five tight ends on our board were even here.
Thursday practices generally aren't as physical as Tuesday and Wednesday, but that wasn't the case with the North squad, which ended the practice with one-on-ones between the offensive and defensive lines in front of the whole team.
Alabama State's Howard and Elon's Udoh are two intriguing small school offensive tackle prospects. Howard's hand placement is inconsistent, but he's an above-average pass-blocker who played well against Auburn this season and has flashed an edge this week. While he's rawer than Howard, Udoh has rare length (36-inch arms) and moves well for a player who weighs in at 327 pounds.