NFL Draft

1/27/25

6 min read

2025 Senior Bowl: Biggest Takeaways From Weigh-Ins

Marshall Thundering Herd defensive lineman Mike Green (15) celebrates after sacking Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) during the first quarter at Lane Stadium.
Marshall Thundering Herd defensive lineman Mike Green (15) celebrates after sacking Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Peter Casey-Imagn Images.

After an incredible weekend of football in the NFL, we now turn our attention to the NFL Draft and the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl. It’s one of the best events of the year as some of the top talent from college football will gather in Mobile, Alabama, to showcase their skills.

One of the most notable events that happens in Mobile is the weigh-ins on Sunday, which is the first time we get verified measurements on these players. And there were some clear winners from Sunday’s weigh-in via Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy:


Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

If there is one player that could rise the most during the 2025 Senior Bowl, it’s Mike Green. The Marshall standout recorded 17 sacks in his final season, recording 84 tackles and 23 tackles for a loss. He was named the 2024 Sun Belt Player of the Year, and it’s no surprise, given his freakish speed and bend around the corner.

But one of the concerns going into the draft process for Green was his size. He was listed at 215 pounds on Marshall’s official site, but most scouts said that he played around 235 pounds. That is still incredibly small by NFL standards, and for most teams, that means he would either need to switch positions or be just a part-time pass rusher.

Green squashed those concerns at the weigh-in, measuring in at 251 pounds at 6031. His arm length of 32 ¼” is short for most NFL pass rushers, but we’ve seen players like Micah Parsons and Trey Hendrickson win with shorter arms. It’s not ideal, but it’s far from a concern either.

We’ll see if the added weight causes Green to look sluggish during the practices, but don’t count on that. He’s one of the most athletic players in the class, and the fact that he’s crossed the 250-pound threshold means he’ll be a full-time EDGE player in the NFL. And given his speed and production, he looks like a sure-fire top-20 pick with a good week in Mobile.

Nov 23, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive tackle Deone Walker (0) celebrates a recovered fumble against the Texas Longhorns during the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images

Deone Walker, NT, Kentucky

One of the best pure nose tackles in this class is Deone Walker, a sure-fire Day 2 pick from Kentucky. We knew he was a massive player, but Sunday’s weigh-ins only confirmed that. He measured in at 6072, 340 pounds, which is among the biggest defensive tackles we’ve ever seen in the NFL.

According to MockDraftable, there have only been 24 defensive players in the NFL to measure in at 6-7 or taller since 1999. Add in the fact that only a handful have weighed in over 330 pounds, and you can see why Walker is such a unique talent.

Walker will need to show in the Senior Bowl practices that he has no problem with leverage and that his height won’t be detrimental when stopping the run in the NFL. But there is no doubt that he can take up a lot of space, and his freakish size should make him an early draft pick.

Nov 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Arizona Wildcats offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea (71) blocks in the second quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona

Arm length tends to be overrated when it comes to pass rushers, but NFL teams still care about it a lot when it comes to deciding whether a player should be a guard or a tackle at the next level. Jonah Savaiinaea has played both guard and tackle during his college career, but all of his snaps in 2024 came at tackle. That is where the money is at in the NFL.

Most NFL teams want their tackles to have at least 33” arms, and some set their threshold at 34”. Savaiinaea crossed that with 34 ½” arms at the Senior Bowl weigh-ins. That is fantastic new,s as he’ll likely be given the opportunity to play tackle in the NFL. He also weighed-in at 339 pounds, which means he has the frame to play on the outside at the next level.

We’ll see how he does in the one-on-one pass-rush drills throughout the week, but he is already one of the biggest winners, and practice hasn’t even started yet.

Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II (0) celebrates a 2-point conversion front of /tJaylon Braxton (11) in double overtime of the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Arkansas Razorbacks at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.,, Saturday, Sept., 7, 2024.

Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State

There was a point last summer where if you googled “2025 NFL Mock Draft,” it would be a shock if Ollie Gordon’s name didn’t appear in Round 1. For most people, he was the top running back in the class going into the year, and it was a sure-fire top 50 selection. He ran for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore, but his production dropped in a big way in 2024. Ollie ran for just 880 yards in 12 games and saw his yards per carry average drop from 6.1 to 4.6.

In most mocks, Gordon is available well into Day 3. But the hope is that a strong Senior Bowl performance could elevate his stock. Gordon weighed in at 6-1 233 pounds on Sunday, which is a bit on the heavier side for today’s NFL running back. He was listed at 225 pounds by Oklahoma State during the season, and usually, added weight isn’t what we want to see from backs entering the NFL.

How well does Gordon handle the extra weight? We should find out during the practice. But for a running back who saw a dip in efficiency this year, this isn’t a great sign. Keep an eye on Gordon throughout the week, as he could be one of the biggest risers with a strong showing.

Nov 30, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Miami Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo (8) runs with the ball after a catch against Syracuse Orange defensive back Clarence Lewis (3) during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (FL)

The 2025 NFL Draft doesn’t have a Brock Bowers-level prospect at the tight end position. However, it does have significantly more depth, as Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren should both be selected inside the top 25 picks. The depth of this class extends to Day 2 and Elijah Arroyo is someone to keep an eye on during the pre-draft process.

Arroyo had a breakout season in 2024, catching 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns. He had just 46 receptions in his collegiate career, but his ability to make plays down the field could get him drafted inside the top 100. However, there were some concerns about his size entering the week, as Miami listed him at 6-4, 235 pounds. Usually, schools exaggerate the measurements and make plays taller and bigger than they actually are. But in Arroyo’s case, they actually undersold him.

Arroyo measured in at 6044 and 251 pounds. That is a full 16 pounds heavier than what Miami listed him at during the season. We’ve become accustomed to seeing 245-pound tight ends in the NFL, but Arroyo crossing the 250-pound mark with his height and athleticism is a great sign for his future prospects.

He is expected to run in the mid-4.6s at the NFL Combine, which would place him near the top of the list in terms of athleticism for tight ends. But he can really improve his stock with a strong showing during the Senior Bowl. Now that he’s checked the boxes in terms of the measurements, it’s on to the practice field, where he should shine.

Sep 7, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Bowling Green Falcons tight end Harold Fannin Jr (0) catches a pass during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Bowling Green 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

The smallest tight end in the Senior Bowl group is Harold Fannin Jr., who measured in at 6-3, 238 pounds. Those measurements aren't completely unexpected as we knew Fannin was a smaller tight end, but was incredibly productive at Bowling Green. However, there were some concerns that he would measure in under 6-3 and under 230 pounds, but he crossed those thresholds on Sunday.

There aren't many comps for sub-245 pound tight ends in the NFL, but the league is become more open to these types of players. Brock Bowers weighed in at 243 pounds during the NFL Combine and just set the all-time rookie record for receiving yards by a tight end. Fannin isn't Bowers, but it's clear that he has a spot in the NFL.

Just how high will Fannin get drafted? A lot will depend on his 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. But with a strong week at the Senior Bowl, he could firmly cement his status a Day 2 pick.


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