NFL Analysis
1/26/24
5 min read
2024 NFL Draft: Prospects Who Could Move Up Boards at Senior Bowl
The 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl starts next week.
More than 150 of the 2024 NFL Draft prospects will be in Mobile, Alabama, to compete in the biggest college All-Star event of the offseason. This year’s Senior Bowl is loaded with talent on offense and defense. With multiple projected first-rounders expected to compete.
Today we will look at five players with the most to gain in this year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Prospects Who Can Move Up Boards At Senior Bowl
Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
As draft day inches closer, Alabama EDGE Chris Braswell is getting mentioned more often as a potential first-round pick.
With four to six edge rushers are consistently projected as first rounders, so plenty of change could happen during the next few months. Braswell can cement himself fully in the first-round conversation with a dominant showing this week at the Senior Bowl.
Braswell had a breakout year at Alabama and is primed for a big week in Mobile in pass rush 1-on-1s. His performance during that practice period could put him in a prime position to land at the back end of the first round, as one of the draft's most dangerous pass rushers.
Payton Wilson, LB, N.C State
One of the more polarizing prospects in this class is North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson.
When healthy, there’s no better linebacker in this class. Unfortunately, struggles to stay on the field during his career leave some concerns with his medicals.
In a weak linebacker class, a big week at the Senior Bowl could push Wilson to the top of the rankings, even with his medical concerns. Wilson will likely shine in most of the drills. He excels in coverage and taking on blockers. His footwork and ability to break down in the open field to make tackles are also impressive.
Every year, we see players with lengthy medical concerns get drafted higher than expected, and Wilson has the opportunity to push himself into the LB1 slot with a big week in Mobile.
DeWayne Carter, iDL, Duke
One of my favorite Day 2 players in this draft class is Duke’s DeWayne Carter.
One of the highest-effort players in the class, Carter plays with a relentlessness that you love to see from an interior defensive lineman. While his pass rush leaves a little to be desired, Carter’s ability to be a force player against the run and push pockets as a pass rusher provides some three-down value.
Carter will have a big opportunity to show more as a pass rusher than he did at Duke in 1-on-1 pass rush drills. He can use his strength and natural leverage to walk offensive linemen back with ease.
Where he will make his money is in run defense drills, which is where he shined at Duke. Carter is not a “sexy” prospect by any means, but with a lack of quality depth at interior defensive line outside of the top 50, Carter can make himself some money at this year's Senior Bowl.
Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
In such a loaded offensive tackle class, it’s easy to forget about guys like Jordan Morgan. Morgan, a three-year starter for the Wildcats, is one of the draft's best natural pass protectors. Viewed as a potential top 50 player in the 2023 NFL Draft, Morgan went back to school and worked himself into this year's first-round discussion.
Morgan will likely have one of the better weeks out of the offensive line group down in Mobile due to his ability to dominate in 1-on-1 pass rush drills. Morgan’s footwork, hands and balance are three of his best traits, which sets him up nicely to shine in drills throughout the week.
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
We’ve all heard about Bo Nix and the system at Oregon this entire draft season.
Next week, Nix will get the chance to quiet some of the loudest critics if he can have a good showing in Mobile, outside of Oregon's offensive system that made him so successful in 2023.
Evaluating quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl is one of the hardest things to do. Having to throw to receivers they have no relation with and are unfamiliar with their timing and angles coming out of breaks makes quarterbacking tough in these practice settings.
If Nix can find a rhythm and have some success throughout the week, that should be a good sign of him finding success outside of Oregon's system.
Nix’s name has been thrown all around the draft board this offseason. While most have him landing in the second round, Nix could work himself back into the first-round conversation if he’ can find some success in Mobile.
