The Senior Bowl isn't only a great place to see top NFL draft prospects showcase their skill. It's also a perfect opportunity to get the latest intel from around the league. Execs, coaches, scouts and other personnel from all 32 NFL teams are in Mobile, Alabama, all week, along with numerous college coaches.
NFL reporters Jeremy Fowler and Jeff Legwold and college football insider Pete Thamel were also in town, talking to people from all over the football landscape and gathering on this 2025 draft class. Which prospects are rising on teams' boards? How is the class shaping up at quarterback and other key positions? Who are some sleepers to keep watching over the next few months?
We dig into all of that, as Jeremy, Jeff and Pete empty their reporting notebooks. Here's what we heard over the course of the week.
Jump to:
Stewart and the DL | Sorting the QBs
OL risers | Two offensive sleepers
Linebacker standouts | More notes
Scouts love Stewart's tools ...
Thamel: The Senior Bowl annually marks a philosophical collision between production and potential, and one area where that's apparent is on the defensive line. Texas A&M true junior Shemar Stewart wowed scouts with his power off the edge. He's 6-foot-5 and 281 pounds, and his 83-inch wingspan is the same as that of Jadeveon Clowney. (It's also the second longest among the Senior Bowl defensive players behind Iowa's Yahya Black.)
Stewart has enough rare physical tools to be a first-round pick, but that will come with some risk; he sacked the quarterback only 4.5 times in three years and only 1.5 times this season. He also added four tackles for loss this season.
Fowler: Out of all the first-round talents in Mobile, Stewart received the most "wow" responses. His burst for a 281-pounder is impressive.
"He stamped himself as the best player," an NFL personnel evaluator said.
... But they also love the production of Green, Ezeiruaku
Thamel: Marshall's Mike Green (17.0) and Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku (16.5), meanwhile, finished first and second in the nation in sack production this season. Green projects as a late first-rounder, which he obviously felt good about when he left the event after Wednesday's practices. One scout also projected Ezeiruaku as a top-100 pick.
Ezeiruaku is just 6-2, 248 pounds, which might concern teams. But he has a staunch advocate in BC coach Bill O'Brien, who has extensive NFL experience and compares him to former Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus. (Along with specialty pass rushing, some second-level linebacker play could also be in the mix for Ezeiruaku.) His super power is getting to the quarterback, and he brings great bend that can compensate for size disadvantages against tackles.
"He does a great job keying the ball and timing the snap, and his get-off is really good," O'Brien said. "His hand use and his ability to dip the edge and not fall down and accelerate to the quarterback, it's huge."
O'Brien added: "He can bend the edge and look like he's almost sideways six inches off the ground, and a 6-foot-6 tackle can't touch him because he's so low -- there's no surface area to punch. He has the unique ability to do that. It's very hard to find that."
Fowler: To that point, while Green shook up the practices by de-cleating talented Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in a drill, a few coaches I spoke to actually prefer Ezeiruaku and even Arkansas' Landon Jackson at this stage.
Is Ward the QB1 of the class?
Thamel: In a draft that projects to be defined by the Cam Ward vs. Shedeur Sanders debate for QB1, the building sentiment from scouts and executives this week was Ward is likely to be the No. 1 pick. This is more anecdotal than scientific, as neither passer was in town. But Ward's versatility and ability to run stand out as a separating traits.
"The reason I thought Jayden Daniels had a great rookie season is ... when it wasn't there, he could make a play," said Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. "And Cam has that same ability. He's not going to be a guy that the speed of the game is going to affect him a lot in his timing. And when it does break down -- because NFL defensive lines are elite -- he's going to be able to save the play."
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Field Yates says quarterbacks Jalen Milroe and Jaxson Dart will have plenty of scouts' eyes on them in this year's practices leading up to the Senior Bowl.
Ward's profile is atypical of a potential top draft pick, as he started at an FCS school and starred with three different programs -- Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami -- during his time in college. NFL teams will have a lot to dig into here, and they'll hear rave reviews from the staff at Miami, as Dawson said Ward is "obsessed with the game" and was the first player in his office every day. The Miami staff is bullish on his leadership, as Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal told ESPN that he showed "natural leadership through action" and "lifted people up" in the program.
"His impact will be long lasting at Miami," Cristobal said.
And is Dart the draft's QB3?
Fowler: One free-flowing topic of conversation in Mobile was whether a quarterback could emerge there as a viable third option behind Ward and Sanders. Alabama's Jalen Milroe struggled at times this week, and the spotlight shifted to Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, who appeared to get more comfortable as the week progressed. One AFC scout acknowledged that Dart -- who threw from 4,279 yards, 29 TDs and six interceptions this season -- can layer the ball and has a sturdy frame with adequate mobility.
"I could see him getting pushed up in the draft, maybe not in the first round but close," the scout said. "He shouldn't be a first-rounder, but it's a weak class and that's how these things go sometimes."
An NFC executive agreed that first-round talk is misguided, noting that Lane Kiffin's system at Ole Miss is a "mess" for incoming NFL quarterbacks and doesn't translate. That showed early in the week, with Dart looking uncomfortable calling plays in the huddle and taking snaps under center. But he improved his comfort level in later practices. The safer bet for Dart would be early Day 2, but supply and demand looms large in the quarterback market over the next three months. Consider that up to five teams picking in the top 10 need a QB, so even if Ward and Sanders go early, the Raiders, Jets or others could be left hanging -- and still looking.
Webb's strength getting interest?
Legwold: Play strength at the point of attack is always coveted in prospects. And several scouts said they believed Jacksonville State offensive lineman Clay Webb -- only the sixth player from the school to participate in the Senior Bowl -- was one of the play-strength kings of the week. He started his career at Georgia, and scouts said he showed the balance, hand placement and footwork of an SEC lineman. Webb -- an early Day 3 guy -- is traditionally a guard, but also he did some work at center during practices this week.
"We've got guards taking snaps with us this week for the first time in their lives," Dart said of Webb, his teammate on the American roster. "I played in the Wing-T all through high school, so I've been under center before. But [Webb] has been one of those guys ... just in there keeping the pocket clean."
Was Zabel the big winner of the week?
Thamel: The narrative arc of North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel's path to the NFL draft is that he bloomed where he was planted. Zabel told ESPN last summer that one reason he turned down "high six-figure offers" elsewhere to stay with the Bison was because he wanted to win a national championship with his senior class -- which he did. He also wanted to be close to the 250 acres of corn he planted three hours from Fargo in Mound City, South Dakota. He majored in agribusiness at NDSU and minored in economics and precision agriculture.
Zabel slid inside at the Senior Bowl and was perhaps been the buzziest prospect of the week, playing center and both guard spots. Scout optimism has followed, as one told ESPN on Tuesday that no player produced more chatter on the Senior Bowl sideline among executives and scouts than Zabel. His stock has clearly risen playing on the interior; he had played a majority of snaps at right tackle in 2023 and earned first-team All-American honors in the FCS at left tackle this season. Becoming a top-50 pick -- very realistic at this point -- could mean a whole lot more acres of corn for Zabel.
Smith rising the board after a position switch?
Legwold: SMU's Brashard Smith has shown that a position switch for his final college season might have been a ticket to some regular NFL work. Smith, who had 69 receptions in three seasons as a wide receiver at Miami, played 14 games at running back for the Mustangs this past season. He rushed for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns, and also hauled in 39 receptions for four more touchdowns.
"He got my attention," a long-time AFC scout said. "You can find matchups with him."
Smith has shown vision and decisiveness as a runner, and his pass-catching chops were easy to see as he routinely won in 1-on-1 drills as a choice route machine. When he measured in at 5-9, 195 pounds this week, evaluators saw him as big enough to be a rotational runner -- and many believe he's at least a sixth-rounder.
Can Gordon recover his draft stock?
Thamel: How deep is this running back crop? One NFL scout told ESPN that it's like having two running back classes crammed into one. And a name that has been lost in the shuffle is Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II. After winning the Doak Walker Award for the nation's top tailback in 2023, he muddled through a disappointing 2024 season. Oklahoma State went 3-9 overall and was winless in the Big 12, and Gordon's rushing numbers dipped across the board. After leading the nation in rushing yards (1,732) and all-purpose yards (2,062) two years ago, Gordon rushed for 880 and had 1,059 all-purpose yards. (He had only 190 carries this season, compared to 285 in 2023.) Gordon also was arrested for a DUI over the summer.
"I feel like we got too complacent with how we were in [2023], and we weren't the same team in '24," Gordon told ESPN. "It wasn't what it was. We just overplayed it, overlooked it. ... I just feel like we weren't really us back then. I feel like we got away from how we play and what we do. Tried to be somebody else that wasn't us."
What can Gordon do to revive his allure as a high-end prospect? He said he's focused on running downhill more and showcasing his hands, as he has caught 80 balls in his career. His versatility will be a big asset for the NFL. Per scouts, Gordon isn't a lock to get picked in the top 100 and could use a big Senior Bowl game to jump-start some momentum. He was solid yet unspectacular this week.
"If his sophomore and junior year were flipped, he'd probably be getting a lot more buzz," one scout said.
Kiser goes from title game to Mobile
Legwold: Proof that little things still matter in the expansive world of the draft, Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser has made himself seen. The Irish's all-time leader in games played (70) was in the national title game, so he and teammate Riley Leonard played eight days before Senior Bowl practices began. Yet several scouts said Kiser showed no football hangover in Mobile, as he was one of the first players on the practice field, going through his pre-practice routine as if it were a playoff game.
One general manager said: "He's out early, ready to practice, looks like he gets his mind right and he just played [last] Monday. That's a piece of the puzzle."
At 6-1, 227 pounds, some will see him as slightly undersized to play inside in the NFL, but he showed the ability to close to create better angles and then finish through his tackles during practices. He's an early Day 3 prospect.
Could Bassa sneak up boards?
Legwold: If you want a high-ceiling Senior Bowl player, look no further than Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, a late-rounder to watch after a 55-tackle season and a good week in Mobile.
"He looks like he's been in our weight room for two years already," one scout said.
Bassa -- who didn't sit out a game in four seasons for the Ducks -- called defensive signals for the National team this week. He's long with a 78-inch arm span and measured at 6-1, 226 pounds. And he showed explosiveness around the line of scrimmage during practices. Evaluators felt as if he showed some rough edges in pass coverage at times, but his recovery speed and play-to-play competitiveness will send many home from Mobile with plans to find a roster spot for him.
Fowler's draft class quick-hitters
Other popular names that came up as Round 1 or early Round 2 options for scouts: Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery, South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, Florida State corner Azareye'h Thomas and Kentucky corner Maxwell Hairston.
Perhaps the hottest name of anyone in Mobile, based on my conversations with scouts and coaches, was Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo. He is solidifying himself as a high Day 2 pick. "Big fluid guy, big hands, can create after the catch," an AFC exec said.
One sleeper I heard from multiple scouts is Western Kentucky corner Upton Stout. "He battles his a-- off every play, which compensates for his size," an AFC scout said, referring to Stout's 5-9 frame.
NC State offensive tackle Anthony Belton has trimmed down from around 370 pounds to 345, which he tells me has him feeling "lighter, more lateral." He helped himself this week, and one NFC scout projected him as a great offensive guard at the next level.
LSU coach Brian Kelly, who was in attendance Thursday, told me that Tigers offensive lineman Miles Frazier has good value to teams because of his versatility. Frazier can play center, guard or tackle, if necessary.
Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. looked fully capable as a tight end, with the ability to win in open space and hold up as a blocker in the run game. He measured at 6-3, 238 pounds, which is on the smaller size for tight ends but an adequate stature to avoid H-back labels.
Fowler's NFL offseason quick-hitters
The over/under on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins' market is $30 million per season, and the majority of team personnel that I spoke with believe he'll hit or clear the over. The lowest estimate I heard was somewhere slightly above DeVonta Smith's three-year, $75 million deal. The rest saw him breaking into the $30 million range, based on his status as a No. 1-caliber receiver and the number of teams desperate for pass-catching help.
The Vikings have not yet made a firm determination on Sam Darnold's future with the team. His strong play this season has caused them to pause and take a hard look at their options. Bringing him back feels like a stronger possibility than it was five or six months ago. But the Vikings will have a cap on spending here. Some agents have argued that Darnold shouldn't take a penny less than Daniel Jones' four-year, $160 million deal with the Giants from two years ago. Teams have suggested Darnold getting something more in line with Baker Mayfield's contract (three years, $100 million). In the end, perhaps the transition tag ($35.3 million) makes the most sense.
Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is the favorite to land the Saints head coaching job, to the point where people with the Eagles are bracing to lose him. Moore is putting together ideas for staffing and other New Orleans candidates have essentially been put on ice. But I'm told Moore wants to get through the Super Bowl game-planning before making any determinations.
Some in the Pittsburgh organization are comfortable with Justin Fields being the team's QB in 2025. He has upside and more mobility at this stage than Russell Wilson, the Steelers' other free agent passer. But as one NFC executive pointed out, Fields didn't seem to have great chemistry with receiver George Pickens, so it's possible that could play a part.