2025 Senior Bowl standouts: Who helped their NFL Draft stock the most?

On Saturday afternoon Senior Bowl week wrapped up with the Senior Bowl game itself down in Mobile, Alabama. That game followed three practice sessions from Tuesday to Thursday.

This week - both the game and the practices - was the final opportunity for some of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft to show talent evaluators what they can do in a true football setting. While the Senior Bowl usually doesn't make or break a prospects draft stock entirely, it does help scouts better sort out players they have have viewed similarly during the season and/or help answer any questions left unknown after the start of the season.

Which players helped their case the most at this year's Senior Bowl? Let's take a look, with a focus on players that project to be relevant for the New England Patriots.

-Jalen Milroe, Alabama
-Taylor Elgersma, Laurier

It was a rough week for the quarterbacks overall in Mobile. Jalen Milroe had a strong final day though, which lands him on our list (but he probably didn’t raise his stock enough where it would impact the Patriots’ draft selection). Meanwhile Taylor Elgersma didn’t look out of place adjusting from the Canadian rules/game ball to the NFL. 

-Donovan Edwards, Michigan
-LaQuint Allen, Syracuse
-Marcus Yarns, Delaware
-Woody Marks, USC
-Devin Neal, Kansas
-Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State

The big winner of the week at the running back position was Donovan Edwards. The Michigan back looked so natural as a pass catcher, it left some discussing whether or not he should make the move to being a full-time slot receiver as a pro. That’s probably a bit much, and also wouldn’t allow a team to make use of his skills as a natural runner. Still, for a team looking for a three-down back on Day 3 Edwards will be an intriguing option.

Edwards wasn’t the only impressive pass-catching back in Mobile. LaQuint Allen from Syracuse, Woody Marks from USC, and Marcus Yarns from Delaware both helped their case in that regard as well.

There wasn’t much traditional run game work in the practice settings, but Ollie Gordon still managed to show off his drive and power when given a chance. This week, Gordon looked more like the standout player we saw in 2023 than the player who regressed statistically in 2024, and was voted as the practice player of the week for his position. That continued into the game, where Gordon also threw a touchdown pass on a trick play.

-Tez Johnson, Oregon
-Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
-Kyle Williams, Washington State
-Xavier Restrepo, Miami
-Jack Bech, TCU
-Chimere Dike, Florida

One of the big winners on the field this week, across the board, was Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson. With his straight-line speed and ability to quickly get in and out of cuts at the top of the route, he dominated one-on-ones. Johnson also appeared to develop as a leader on the National Team roster.

When it comes to the Patriots, Johnson is an interesting player to place. While he is a dynamic route runner, at 5-foot-9, 156 pounds he’s not built for the volume that comes with the slot role in Josh McDaniels’ offense. That’s not to say there wouldn’t be a role for him (think Chris Hogan), but after the week he’s had he could end up being a second-round pick. Can the Patriots afford to use that significant of an asset on a rotational receiver? 

If the Patriots are looking for that true volume slot receiver, there were a couple of players at the Senior Bowl who better fit the mold. In terms of a traditional smaller, shifty slot receiver that player was Xavier Restrepo.

Then there's a couple receivers who should have real inside/outside versatility at the next level. Jack Bech made contested catch after contested catch at 6-foot-1, 212 pounds while also showing impressive athleticism and being a factor as a blocker in the run game, making him look like a potential 'X' or big slot. Following the three practices, Bech was voted as the wide receiver practice player of the week by the defensive backs he went against then caught the game-winning touchdown on Saturday and was named game MVP. Bech is currently projected to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.

The same can be said for Jayden Higgins, who showed off high level quickness and short-area movement for a player at 6-foot-3, 217 pounds. Kyle Williams also fits in this inside/outside category, but is more of a speed player than a power player like Bech or Higgins.

-Elijah Arroyo, Miami
-Mason Taylor, LSU
-Terrance Ferguson, Oregon

Elijah Arroyo was the clear-cut winner at the tight end position at the Senior Bowl this year. He dominated one-on-ones showing advanced route running for the position. LSU's Mason Taylor also had a solid week, and like Arroyo showed to be more advanced in his development than his peers.

However, both of those players are projected to be top 100 picks. That might be a bit high for the Patriots to take a tight end, especially if Austin Hooper returns in free agency. Keeping that in mind the top Day 3 tight end looked to be Terrance Ferguson from Oregon. Ferguson moves very well for a 6-foot-5, 248-pound player and regularly looked to be a mismatch for safeties in coverage. He also showed an impressive catch radius.

-Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
-Josh Conerly, Oregon
-Anthony Belton, North Carolina St.
-Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
-Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M

In our Senior Bowl preview, we referred to the 'battle' between Aireontae Ersery and Josh Conerly as the 'Main Event' of the week from a Patriots point of view. Both are in the conversation to be the third left tackle off the board after Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks, with the question coming into the week being which of the two would look more impressive.

Conerly had some very strong moments, and was voted as the offensive lineman practice player of the week. However, he struggled in the game itself on Saturday. Ersery was the more steady of the two, with his overpowering style on display. Given the nature of the tackle position, Ersery's consistency should give him the nod here.

Beyond those two, the most impressive tackle this week was probably Anthony Belton. Belton played left tackle at NC State but at 6-foot-5, 345 pounds he profiles more as an NFL right tackle. He had plus reps at both spots throughout the week. That potential positional versatility should help bump up his draft stock.

The same can be said for Ozzy Trapilo of Boston College, who along with Belton was one of the few tackle standouts when the linemen cross-trained positions on Wednesday. Trapilo and Carson Vinson were the top projected Day 3 tackles.

-Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
-Miles Frazier, LSU
-Caleb Webb, Jacksonville State

A tackle at North Dakota State, Grey Zabel moved inside full-time at the Senior Bowl. Playing both guard and center he didn't miss a beat. He was the best player on the field for either team from start to finish, dominating in one-on-ones and team drills. At the end of the week he was voted the overall practice player of the week by NFL front office members following the game. While Zabel looks like a textbook fit as a Patriots left guard, he'll probably go higher than the Patriots should be drafting at the position - especially after his Senior Bowl performance.

The more realistic interior offensive line targets for the Patriots from the Senior Bowl are Miles Frazier from LSU and Caleb Webb from Jacksonville State. Frazier in particular had a strong week and was voted his team's offensive lineman practice player of the week.

-Cam Jackson, Florida
-Darius Alexander, Toledo
-Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
-Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
-Yahya Black, Iowa

Overside athletic defensive tackles are becoming more common in the modern NFL, and can be real chess pieces for a defense. There were a few such players at this year's Senior Bowl with Cam Jackson highlighting the group. The Florida Gator was disruptive all three days, showing impressive subtleness in his pass rush moves at 6-foot-6, 339 pounds. Darius Alexander isn't quite as big but plays a similar style. He was voted as his team's practice player of the week.

Meanwhile, there were a couple of defensive tackles that are undersized by typical Patriots standards, but could be more of a fit in the team's new, more aggressive season. Aeneas Peebles might make sense for the Patriots as a Day 3 target if the new coaching staff, especially if he can play some defensive end at 6-foot, 289 pounds.

-Mike Green, Marshall
-Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
-Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
-Josiah Stewart, Michigan
-Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
-Landon Jackson, Arkansas
-Jah Joyner, Minnesota
-Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
-Femi Oladejo, UCLA
-Danny Striggow, Minnesota

The edge rushers were the most impressive positional group at this year's Senior Bowl. That reflects the reality of this class, which while weaker than usual overall still has plenty of pass rushers.

For the Patriots specifically, a number of players stood out who are projected to go around their second draft pick, 38th overall. If Abdul Carter doesn't make it to the fourth overall pick, there's a real chance they could address their pass rush need there. That group includes Donovan Ezeiruaku, Kyle Kennard, Landon Jackson, and Princely Umanmielen.

There were also some Day 3 edge rushers who helped their cases this week. Jah Joyner from Minnesota was particularly impressive in that regard.

-Shemar James, Florida
-Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
-Demetrius Knight, South Carolina

The linebackers took a few days to get going due to the nature of the practices, but when Thursday rolled around with more team drills Shemar James did the most to take advantage. He was flying around the field and constantly around the ball, and was one of the best athletes at the event. For a Patriots team that needs more athleticism at linebacker, he'd be a very logical draft target.

-Maxwell Harrison, Kentucky
-Azareye'h Thomas, Florida State
-Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan
-Darien Porter, Iowa State
-Mac McWilliams, UCF

The size at cornerback from this Senior Bowl group was on display throughout the week. That group was highlighted by projected top 100 picks in Maxwell Harrison, Azareye'h Thomas, and Darien Porter.

Of the Day 3 cornerbacks, Bilhal Kone seemed to help himself out this week, but didn't finish the week as strong as he started it. On the flip side, Mac McWilliams got better as the week went on but did get picked on in the game.

-Billy Bowman, Oklahoma
-Dante Trader, Maryland
-Dan Jackson, Georgia
-Keondre Jackson, Illinois State

Given the way most college defenses are schemed in the modern game, there aren't as many true deep safeties coming through the NFL Draft as their used to be. Bowman is an exception, and showed off impressive range and ball skills this week. For a Patriots team still trying to replace Devin McCourty, he could be a Day 3 target.

-P Jeremy Crenshaw, Florida

Florida punter Jeremy Crenshaw was the most impressive of the specialists at the Senior Bowl this week. However, punter isn't a position of need for the Patriots. Both kickers had their misses. If the Patriots do draft a kicker this year, they may end up looking beyond Senior Bowl participants Ryan Fitzgerald and Caden Davis.