Tag: 2022 Senior Bowl

Commanders HC target Ben Johnson has worked with Sam Howell

The Commanders could have a lot of Carolina Blue in the QB room in 2024.

Ben Johnson has already coached and worked with Sam Howell.

At that time, the NFL rotated teams to coach the annual Senior Bowl, an all-star game of sorts for college seniors hoping to have an NFL career.

The Lions coaching staff was chosen for the 2022 Senior Bowl. In the brief video posted above, Johnson is seen doing some work with former Liberty University quarterback Malik Willis as well as current Commanders quarterback Sam Howell.

In one instance, Johnson is seen joking around with Howell, asking Howell about being the second-greatest quarterback in North Carolina history. Howell then responds, asking who was first? Johnson was a quarterback at North Carolina during the 2004 through 2007 seasons. It is not revealed in the video if Howell was aware of the Carolina football history involving Johnson as a quarterback.

Johnson, though a Tar Heel quarterback for four seasons, was lower on the depth chart and never played quarterback during an actual UNC game.

Being a UNC alumnus, there is no doubt Johnson is well aware of the most recent UNC quarterback Drake Maye. Maye is expected to be drafted in the top five in April’s 2024 NFL draft, and it could be that Johnson will be coaching Maye next season for the Commanders.

At the time of the 2022 Senior Bowl, Johnson was still the Lions tight ends coach. However, he served as an offensive coordinator during the Senior Bowl week.

In that offseason, Johnson was promoted to the Lions’ offensive coordinator position, which he has served well in for the past two seasons. Incidentally, Panthers owner David Tepper wanted Johnson to be the Panthers’ head coach during the 2023 offseason. However, Johnson was determined to remain with the Lions for another season.

After a much better 2023 season with the Lions, Johnson is now one of the more desired head coach candidates in this 2024 hiring cycle. The Commanders interviewed Johnson (virtually) last week. In addition, the Commanders have scheduled an in-person interview with Johnson next week.

PFF names former Sooner Perrion Winfrey as a prospect that could go earlier than expected

Oklahoma defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey was listed by Pro Football Focus as a possible prospect to be drafted earlier than expected.

The 2022 NFL draft is right around the corner and the information and misinformation about which team covets what prospects is out in full force. There ads a lot of smokescreens out there this time of year and as many in the industry say, “it’s lying season.”

No one knows what each teams are thinking this close to the start of the draft but teams are working overtime going over the possible scenarios they’ll face during the draft.

At this point, most of the scouting process is largely wrapped. Guys have put as much film and testing out into the world as possible.

For one Oklahoma Sooner, things have been fluctuating for a while. However, Pro Football Focus believes he’s flying under the radar and will surpass someone come draft time.

Defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey put on a show in the pre-draft process. From his time at the Senior Bowl where he dominated the practice week and was selected Senior Bowl MVP, Winfrey has seen his stock rise after a less than stellar final season in Norman.

Winfrey entered the offseason viewed by some as a third or even a fourth rounder, but his work these last few months has him as one of PFF’s underrated prospects that may go earlier than expected.

PFF Big Board Rank: 84th – Winfrey is slightly undersized at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, but he has massive 35 1/4-inch arms and could be a surprise late first-round pick, per a source. He ran a 4.89-second 40-yard dash at the combine and excelled as a pass-rusher in 2021, earning a 79.3 pass-rush grade with 29 pressures, including six sacks, six quarterbacks hits and 27 hurries, on 285 snaps. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a team to watch. – Doug Kyed of PFF

Winfrey sneaking into the first round would be a massive surprise on draft night. Not because he’s not talented but many pegged his lack of consistent tape and his size as ample reason for him not to be a taken that high. However, the first round of the NFL Draft has produced some crazy scenarios, so Winfrey landing with Tampa Bay or one of last year’s playoff teams in the first round isn’t all that crazy.

In many mocks drafts like this from The Draft Wire or this one here from Mel Kiper, the enigmatic and disruptive pass rusher seems all but a lock for a pick in the second round. Landing in the late first round is seems unlikely, but it’s not completely unreasonable.

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Should Cowboys consider Trevor Penning for Tyron Smith’s eventual replacement?

Tyler Browning ( @DiabeticTyler ) takes a look at the offensive lineman out of Northern Iowa, who plays with a nasty streak. Where should he be picked?

With the Dallas Cowboys moving on from La’El Collins and the injury history of long-time tackle Tyron Smith; Cowboys fans shouldn’t be surprised if the Cowboys decide to address the offensive line early on in the 2022 draft. Northern Iowa offensive tackle Trevor Penning has been a three-year starter and has built up quite the reputation as a player with a mean streak. He is known for finishing people in the ground, and it was on display at the Senior Bowl.

He also had a chance to show his athleticism for NFL scouts and executives at the NFL combine where he impressed with his athleticism. The monkey in the room? He’s projected to go high, comes from a smaller school and wasn’t invited to Texas for an official visit. Did the Cowboys make a mistake in not doing so? Is he impressive enough to be drafted despite those warning signs?

Perrion Winfrey questions previous OU defensive coaching staff in ‘The Oklahoma Breakdown’ appearance

Perrion Winfrey voiced displeasure with the previous defensive coaching staff in an appearance on “The Oklahoma Breakdown.”

Former OU defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey is fresh off earning MVP in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl after recording two sacks and three tackles for loss in the showcase game.

Winfrey joined hosts Gabe Ikard and Teddy Lehman on their podcast, “The Oklahoma Breakdown”, to discuss his dominance in the Senior Bowl, his reaction to Lincoln Riley’s departure to USC and the 2021 OU season.

Winfrey dominated throughout the week and it was during some of his one-on-ones work that he felt he belonged and it could be a great week for himself.

“After the first win, I’m like, yo, this is easy. Yeah this is the best of the best, but I’m up there with them. I’m thinking before like, man, this might be a little challenging. It was lowkey easier going against the best of the best because it brought my game up to a level that I’ve never seen before. It just made me want to go harder and made me want to prove people wrong, so, after that first win, I was on and popping like I couldn’t slow down,” Winfrey said in his podcast appearance.

As the week went on, Winfrey felt the tone surrounding himself change during interviews with NFL teams.

“Tuesday, that was the first day of practice. We met with 16 teams from seven to 11. They were like, ‘You’re having a good day, monster day.’ But then on Thursday, after the Thursday practice like after the week, everybody’s tone changed like they’re, ‘What’s gotten into you? Are you serious? I didn’t even know you had this in you.’ Every single coaching staff that I talked to tone completely changed from me getting there and then our last interviews. It was crazy,” Winfrey said.

Of course, the biggest storyline surrounding Oklahoma football has been the end of the Lincoln Riley era and the beginning of the Brent Venables era. Winfrey didn’t hide his initial frustrations when Riley chose to bolt to USC.

“I’m not gonna lie. At first, I was mad. I was mad as hell just because like I don’t know it just made everything like, it just made like everything weird, our sendoff I guess you would say. Everything just didn’t feel right. It felt like that’s not the way our season was supposed to end. I just felt like we were too talented to lose two games. It was just a lot of emotions going inside my body. I was truly mad for about a good week. I’m not gonna lie. I was mad for like a week. I kept talking to my roommate about it every day and then I just had to push it to the back of my mind. I was just mad. I was mad at the beginning. After a while I got to thinking, I’m like, ‘Man, he did what was best for his family.’ I don’t agree with how he did it, but he did what he saw fit, what was going to help his family out the most,” Winfrey said.

It was what Winfrey said about the 2021 season and his former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch that Sooner fans will ruminate upon moving forward.

“I believe Grinch was a great coach when it came to trying to fine-tune our mental and trying to get us prepared for the game, but I also feel like we weren’t playing to our strengths. We had me, Nik Bonitto, Isaiah Thomas and Jalen Redmond all on the same D-line. There’s no reason why we’re not attacking people 24/7. There’s no reason why we have to run stunts in games,” Winfrey said.

He shared a moment from the Senior Bowl to illustrate his point.

“In the Senior Bowl game, me and IT ran a stunt. It didn’t work. I come to the sideline, the Jets coach was like, ‘Don’t be running no games. Games are for people who can’t dominate a man one-on-one.’ So then, I go in again and I just run through a person’s face and get a TFL. Come back to the sideline and he’s like, ‘You see what I’m talking about? You don’t need to run no games. Games are meant for people who can’t dominate a game.’ So, I feel like, we just weren’t allowed to showcase our skills throughout the whole season,” Winfrey said.

He expanded upon the ways in which he felt the previous defensive coaching staff didn’t always best position the 2021 Sooners.

“Nik Bonitto is mugging 95 percent of the game in coverage instead of screaming off the edge. They got, they putting me at nose. There’s a whole bunch of things. I could go on and on about it. It was just confusing because it was like as a defensive coordinator—I got respect for Grinch—but you’re supposed to mold your defensive scheme around your players. You’re not supposed to try to force a scheme on players that it doesn’t fit. As a great defensive coordinator, you must see what you have and put forth enough to help them. Not try to mold them around your scheme, because as you see, it wasn’t working,” Winfrey said.

According to Winfrey, that frustration was palpable within the defense during the 2021 season.

“We were all so frustrated this year because we knew what we were capable of. We were going, it was like a four to five game span where we didn’t get a sack or a TFL. Just seeing stuff like that, we were truly frustrated the whole year, so I feel like that’s probably why the defense didn’t play how they did in the year before just because we were so frustrated and I guess fed up in the fact that we wanted certain calls in and we weren’t getting the things that we wanted to. We weren’t playing the way that we wanted to because of those things,” Winfrey said.

Then, there’s the matter of snap counts and rotations.

“The only other thing that was pissing us off was the rotations. When I want to get out of the game, let me tap my head and come out. You don’t have to take us out every three plays. We were trying to tell them, ‘I need to get into a rhythm.’ I’m going in for three plays and then I won’t see the field for like two drives. Then, I’m going back in. My legs cold, hips tight. Let us get hot. That’s how I play the game. Once I get hot, ain’t no cooling me down,” Winfrey said.

After the Senior Bowl, it’s hard to argue against Winfrey having a reasonable case here. If Winfrey continues to play like he did at the Senior Bowl and beyond, the questions that linger from 2021 will only grow.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Chargers Prospect Interview: Oregon S Verone McKinley III

The versatile defensive back would be a solid addition to the Chargers’ secondary.

The Chargers Wire staff is back after a week spent in Mobile, AL, observing the Reese’s Senior Bowl, one of the pinnacle all-star events in the months leading up to the NFL Draft.

There, prospects had the opportunity to receive coaching and compete in front of NFL personnel and coaches during the three days of practice and game.

While we were down there, Gavino Borquez had the opportunity to talk to Oregon safety Verone McKinley III about his experience at the prestigious event and what the NFL draft process has been like for him so far. 

Vitals

Height: 5105
Weight: 196
Hand: 9
Arm: 3068
Wing: 7300

College Bio page

Chargers Fit

McKinley may be a bit undersized for true free safety, but he makes up for it with his quick-twitch reaction speed, athleticism, ball skills, football IQ, and downhill close to the ball. He is sticky in man coverage but possesses the desired aggressiveness to reliably put down ball carriers as a run defender. McKinley is a natural leader and tone-setter who can be a versatile chess piece for Los Angeles. 

Round Projection: 2nd

Highlights

GB: You played quarterback and wide receiver in high school. How do you feel like that helped you switch to the other side of the ball and play defensive back?

VM: I would say quarterback-wise, it helped me with the leadership side and to be able to command things on defense. Make sure I get everybody lined up, make sure you know what everybody needs to do. It kind of gave me that ability to be ‘The General.’ For my time at wide receiver, that’s where the ball skills come into play. To be able to track the ball, see the angle of it, turn my hand certain ways and be able to reel in those interceptions. That’s where the ball skills come from.

GB: That’s obviously a strength of yours. You had 11 interceptions throughout your college career. Speaking of that, what would you say is your best trait?

VM: Being able to mix my athletic ability with my IQ, that’s probably like my biggest trait because I’m able to play ahead of the snap and have a jump on different things. That’s why I’m always playing ahead of the offense and able to diagnose things, see it, and just go get it. So putting that athletic ability with my IQ together is what I feel makes me probably the most special.

GB: Do you model your game after someone?

VM: I have the same defensive back trainer as Jamal Adams, so that’s how I know him and bounce ideas off of him. But I wouldn’t just say him… Tyrann Mathieu, Buddha Baker, Jessie Bates, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Those are just some guys right there that I kind of model my game after. I like to pick different pieces of their game and implement them into mine.

GB: You’ve known Adams since sixth grade, What’s the number one lesson you have learned from him?

VM: Just always to be different. Always try to do more and stand out from the pack. There are always great players everywhere, but what are you going to do to really stand out and separate yourself from that? I feel like he’s been a big part of me understanding that.

GB: You are a versatile defender and were used in a lot of different alignments at Oregon. If you had to choose, would you say you’re most comfortable in a two-high shell, centerfielder role, or in the slot?

VM: It kind of depends on who we’re playing. For instance, certain teams have certain strengths, and I want to be able to go after those strengths and make them a weakness. So let’s take the Super Bowl for example. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins out wide, I’ll probably want to play more centerfield or two-high to be able to help my cornerbacks out. But if we’re playing the Rams, you know Cooper Kupp gets a lot of those targets. I would like to go into the slot, challenge Kupp on the option routes, and make things difficult for him.

GB: We are seeing an evolution of the safety position happening right now, what does playing the position look like for you on the field?

VM: I feel like it makes me versatile, but it allows me to thrive in different systems. I would say to be a safety you have to be the quarterback of the defense and that’s kind of where the whole ‘General’ title came from. You got to make checks, you got to be able to cover receivers, tight ends, running backs, you got to be able to get in the slot, blitz, play in the box. You have got to be able to do everything. Now, certain people are gonna use you certain ways, but if you have that ability to do everything it just helps you out even more. My dad always told me to know everything, know what everybody does, know where your help is to be able to play all those spots. 

GB: Who was the hardest receiver to cover when you were at Oregon?

VM: The Ohio State receivers (Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba), Drake London, Bradon Aiyuk. 

GB: Why were they difficult to cover?

VM: They are all different in their own ways, but those are NFL receivers right there. You want to go against the best of the nest, but these types of guys all bring something special to the table. You got to make sure you’re on your P’s and Q’s at all times because these are guys that can make a play at any moment. 

London’s a big-body guy that’s really good at the jump ball. Olave’s a speedster. Aiyuk and Smith-Njigba are players that can do it all and very good all-around receivers. Wilson runs really good routes and has great releases.

GB: If I were to talk to your head coach or your defensive coordinator, what is the one word they would tell me to describe you?

VM: Cerebral. I would say that because for me, it’s not just about the physical side of the game but the mental side as well. When you’re a student and want to continue to learn, especially somebody like that who is a big film junkie and somebody that just loves football, I’ll go in and meet with coaches and make sure to see it from both perspectives, a player and coach perspective. That allows me to play faster, understand gap schemes, allows me to understand what the front is doing. If something does leak out, I have the ability to know why it leaked out and where that can be cleaned up.

Defense is a puzzle. As ‘The General.’ I feel like I’m the big-picture guy who is going to see that whole puzzle, identify the missing links, and get that fixed so the picture looks right. When I say ‘cerebral,’ I’m this guy who is going to be on at all times during the game, think while he makes plays, and made football adjustments because that’s a huge part of the game. When I tapped the ball on the run [during a fumble recovery against UCLA], it’s because I was thinking while I was playing. 

GB: How did you earn the nickname ‘The General’ and when did it start?

VM: It started around 2020 because I was controlling everything back there. I’m always vocal and loud, directing people, and it kind of just started with my teammates and me. Then it just started to progress from there and after the Ohio State game it just blew up. 

GB: What’s next for you after the Senior Bowl between now and the NFL Combine?

VM: Back to Exos and Frisco, TX. Just working on my starts and on my 5-10-5, all of that. I’m also making sure I stay sharp because once I do get drafted, football’s right around the corner with rookie OTAs. So that, staying sharp and conditioned, that’s pretty much what I’ll be doing.

GB: Outside of football, how do you like to spend your time outside the game?

VM: I like to podcast a little bit. I want to be in media and broadcasting and be an analyst later on, so that’s why I did all the interviews at school. Just practice getting better each time.

GB: Is there someone in the media field that you might want to emulate?

VM: I would want to be a mixture of Tony Romo and Gus Johnson. Johnson has the excitement, everybody knows every time you watch a game, he’s going to make sure you’re dialed in. Romo’s ability to diagnose and dissect plays before they happen… I feel like that’s kind of how I play so I would be doing the same thing. I tweet a lot, especially during games, about what I saw and what could have been done.

GB: What would it be like to play with Justin Herbert again?

VM: I would love to play with Herb again. Of course, being at Oregon with him for those battles in practice, I think he’s somebody that makes you better because when you have good coverage in on-on-ones, you want to go against somebody where every ball is perfect. He’s a franchise quarterback and playing with him early on in college definitely helped my development.

Panthers take QB Malik Willis in latest Draft Wire mock

Malik Mania is starting to run wild towards the Carolina Panthers.

University of Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett isn’t the only quarterback picking up steam for the Carolina Panthers’ first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He now has himself a formidable challenger, at least here in February, in Malik Willis.

Liberty University’s star passer squeezes his way into this year’s sixth overall pick in yet another mock. This time, it’s Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling connecting the big Senior Bowl winner to head coach Matt Rhule and company.

“This year’s quarterback class is still a mystery in many ways, but after whiffing at the game’s most important position last year (passing on Justin Fields, trading this year’s second-round pick for Sam Darnold), the Panthers can’t afford to do it again,” Easterling writes. “Willis’ rare arm talent and explosiveness/athleticism give him a sky-high ceiling.”

That ceiling is what currently makes Willis such an enticing prospect for Carolina. His dual-threat tools—the rocket launcher attached to his right shoulder and the giddy-up on the ground—helped the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder to 47 passing touchdowns and 27 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons.

It’s Willis’ rawness, however, that could give Rhule pause—especially in a season where the Panthers have to turn it around in order for him to keep his job. But could the kid’s promise—in what could be a home run of a pick—wind up promising the soon-to-be third-year head coach a fourth campaign?

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Top NFL evaluator doesn’t think Kenny Pickett ‘makes it past’ Panthers

According to CBS Sports, a handful of NFL evaluators think the Panthers will lock in on Kenny Pickett. But is this all just early pre-draft smoke?

As the owners of the sixth overall pick and a relatively mild class of passers ahead, the Carolina Panthers may be the gatekeepers at the quarterback position in this year’s draft. So who appears to have early access?

According to CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora, it could be Pittsburgh University’s Kenny Pickett.

“Word is, the Carolina Panthers are taking a strong shine to Pickett, which makes sense on multiple levels,” writes La Canfora, who spoke with three “top evaluators” from teams who are all quarterback-needy.

“‘I don’t think he makes it past the Panthers,’ said one evaluator who has done extensive work on Pickett. ‘Their owner (David Tepper) is a huge Pitt booster. He hasn’t invested draft capital in a quarterback yet. He has to know the Steelers like him (Tepper is a former minority investor in the Steelers). I think that’s a fit,'” he added.

La Canfora also notes that all three sources from the Senior Bowl believe Pickett is the “most consistent and more ready QB in this draft,” with an NFC scout claiming he was the “best of the bunch” and it wasn’t close. An AFC scout, additionally, said he’d “mock” the 2021 Heisman Trophy finalist to the Panthers.

That sentiment seems, well, a bit off from the general consensus out of Mobile, Ala. from this past week. Many accounts, rather, had Liberty University’s Malik Willis as the clear-cut winner of all the quarterbacks at the all-star event.

So is this just the usual pre-draft smoke, or is there actually some fire to this report?

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Chargers Wire’s winners, risers from 2022 Senior Bowl: Offense

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez and Cole Topham break down the 2022 NFL draft prospects that made themselves money at the Senior Bowl.

Now that the 2022 Senior Bowl is over, it is time to reflect back on the meaning of the week.

Which NFL draft prospects helped themselves the most throughout their time in Mobile? Let’s dive in with our winners and risers.

Quarterback

Our winner(s): Kenny Pickett (Pitt) and Malik Willis (Liberty)

Pickett refused to have his hands measured at the Senior Bowl, citing an issue with his double-jointed finger. No matter how much stock you place in the hand size of quarterbacks, Pickett was accurate and put together quality performances across all three days of practice. He was accurate, progressed through his reads quickly, and got the ball out in a timely fashion.

Throughout the week, Willis was an interesting study. His lower body fundamentals can be a mess at times in the pocket and Willis will need a strong coaching staff to develop that area at the next level. However, his ability to extend plays, find receivers on the run, and throw off-platform are traits to salivate over. The ball zips out his hand and I did not see a pass wilt on him all week. 

Our biggest riser: Carson Strong (Nevada)

Like Willis, Strong entered Senior Bowl week as a wild card of sorts. By the event’s conclusion, Strong had done enough to disassociate himself from that label. For starters, he clarified the medicals around his knee and did not wear a brace after sporting one all through the 2021 season at Nevada. This resulted in increased mobility and comfortableness exiting the pocket and operating on bootlegs. Strong was fearless throwing the deep ball in practice, showing off his cannon and throw power. Sometimes, the ball would have too much arc, which increased the hang time, and often the receiver would have to sit on the end of the rope to make the catch. Nevertheless, Strong proved he has the intangibles to play quarterback in the NFL.

Running Back

Our winner(s): Abram Smith (Baylor) and Brian Robinson (Alabama)

A compact rusher at 5’10” and 220 pounds, Smith was the best all-around running back in Mobile. A former linebacker, Smith showcased that physicality by punching through the line with vigor and running through tacklers with his frame. His deceiving burst allowed him to quickly dip in and out of the box.

Robinson performed well in every facet of the position but gained the respect of defenders for his work in pass protection. When practice was moved indoors on Thursday, Robinson put together his best showing. He bowled over Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall in a National Championship blitz pickup rematch. It was one of the more memorable moments at the Senior Bowl this year.

Our biggest riser: Rachaad White (Arizona State)

White introduced himself to those on the East Coast who fell asleep before he fueled the Sun Devil offense this season. White brought all the traits to the Senior Bowl that made him a star in ASU’s backfield. His jump-cut ability, soft hands out of the backfield, and methodical approach behind the trenches to allow the offensive line to root themselves in their blocks are all translatable to today’s NFL playstyle.

Wide Receiver

Our winner(s): Christian Watson (NDSU) and Calvin Austin III (Memphis)

Hulking 6’4” size and a spiderweb-like catch radius. Fluid hips and freakish speed that defy the physics of his frame. Strong hands and tracking skills to reel in the football through traffic. Watson dominated in pretty much every aspect of the wide receiver position at the Senior Bowl and quickly garnered the “unguardable” tag from the media in attendance. 

Austin III was expected to be one of the Senior Bowl’s high-profile wideouts but surprised on Monday by measuring in two inches shorter than expected. The 5’7” speedster evaporated concerns over his height by becoming untouchable off the line and separating consistently on every level of his route. Austin’s electric route running and dauntless mentality was thrilling to watch and won the respect of a talented American defensive back group.

Our biggest riser: Bo Melton (Arizona State)

A legacy product out of Rutgers, Melton showed off one of the more advanced release packages at the Senior Bowl. Melton displayed exceptional short-area quickness and overall smoothness as a route runner. He ran a technical route tree, incorporated rocker steps as well as hesitation at the top of his stems, and was used heavily as a gadget player for the National offense in 11-on-11.

Tight end

Our winner(s): Trey McBride (Colorado State) and Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State)

McBride, the John Mackey Award winner, reaffirmed that he is this year’s No. 1 tight. Not only did he flash by catching nearly everything thrown his way during practices, but McBride showed athleticism in his routes to create separation, ran through arm tackles to pick up yards after the catch and finished plays with aggression. Further, McBride displayed the chops as a blocker. He capped off his impressive Senior Bowl week with a touchdown in the game.

Ruckert’s production was limited because of the offense he played in at Ohio State. Throughout the week, not only was he adept as a blocker but he showed why he is going to be far more reliable in the passing game as a pro. Ruckert looked smooth with his routes and his ball skills stood out, as he made grabs away from his body.

Our biggest riser: Greg Dulcich (UCLA)

McBride reassured that he remains the top tight end in this class, but Dulcich made a statement as one of the guys right behind him. At his best catching the football, Dulcich displayed fluid downfield strides and an understanding of route depth, with vacuum-like hands to reel in everything thrown his way. For a team like Chargers in need of someone to fill the “F” role, Dulcich is worth considering.

Offensive line

Our winner(s): Zion Johnson (Boston College) and Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa)

Johnson was our top guard coming into the week and he only helped maintain that spot with his showing throughout the week. While it took some time for him to adjust to center after spending his time in college at tackle and guard, Johnson quickly found his groove. With a combination of play strength, lateral quickness, leverage and proper hand placement, defenders struggled to get by him. He also provided a surge in the running game.

After facing and dominating small-school pass rushers, this was a big test for the presumed first-rounder. While it wasn’t always pretty for him as he struggled with leveraging and keeping his balance against power at times, Penning improved each day, with his mauler’s mentality and nasty temperament when finishing plays being the highlight of the week.

Our biggest riser: Cole Strange (Chattanooga)

After Quinn Meinerz put together a dominant week coming out of a Division III program, everyone was wondering if there would be another small-school stud to follow in his footsteps, and it was Strange. When isolated in pass protection in one-on-one drills, Strange stymied his opponents with a great anchor, base, and power absorption and the footwork to mirror. Further, he created consistent movement in the run game. Strange made his case to be a Day 2 selection.

Looking at the NFL draft prospect the Eagles should covet the most after 2022 Senior Bowl

Looking at the #SeniorBowl prospect the Eagles should covet the most heading into the #NFLDraft2022

The NFL draft starts in Mobile, Alabama and after college football’s top seniors all congregated for the annual all-star game, there are plenty of elite prospects for Howie Roseman to turn his attention towards.

Whether it’s an edge rusher, wide receiver, safety, linebacker, wide receiver, or offensive line, Philadelphia has plenty of needs and three first-round picks available to address them.

Bleacher Report recently took a look at the one NFL prospect that all 32 teams should covet post-Senior Bowl, and athletic University of Kentucky offensive guard, Darian Kinnard landed on the list for the Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ best path forward on offense is to build and market themselves as a physical team with a bruising ground game.

Utilizing one of their five top-100 picks on the 6’5″, 324-pound Darian Kinnard (scouting report) out of Kentucky would be a good step toward building that brand. Brandon Brooks—who has similar dimensions—has announced his retirement.

Kinnard is a versatile player, with a physical demeanor that would fit with Jeff Stoutland’s culture, and fared well in one on matchups with some of the top edge rushers at the Senior Bowl.

An All-American and All-SEC performer, Kinnard can play right tackle efficiently as well.

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QB Malik Willis named one of 2022 Senior Bowl’s ‘biggest winners’

Malik Willis, a potential draft target for the Panthers, was named one of Draft Wire’s biggest winners from the 2022 Senior Bowl.

If there wasn’t a Malik Willis hype train headed towards Charlotte, N.C. before this past weekend, then there’s certainly one on its way now.

With the Carolina Panthers in desperate need of a quarterback and in possession of the upcoming draft’s sixth overall pick, the dots between the franchise and the Liberty University passer are starting to be connected. And that connection has especially picked up steam due to Willis’ performance at this year’s Senior Bowl.

Draft Wire’s Gavino Borquez named his biggest winners of the all-star event on Monday. Of them, of course, is Carolina’s potential first-round choice.

“On tape, the physical traits and arm strength of Willis always popped,” Borquez writes. “However, the things he needed to show improvement were his mechanics and throwing with anticipation. Benefiting from a more robust support cast than the one he had in college, Willis checked those boxes as he coupled his rocket-like arm with pinpoint accuracy, all while dealing with rugged weather conditions the first two days of practice. His showing helped his draft stock, and if a team wants him, they may have to trade up into the top-10.”

Willis didn’t put that arm on display much during the game itself, only completing two of his four attempts for 11 yards. But his showings at practice—and his electric runs on Saturday—were more than enough to get the buzz going.

The buzz also extended to the worldwide leader. ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid mocked Willis to the Panthers in his new set of projections on Monday.

So you might want to buy your ticket before this train passes you by.

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