Senior Bowl: 5 players with the most to gain in 2019

People continue to underestimate just how valuable participating in the Senior Bowl can be in regards to their potential draft status.

Just look back at recent history for an idea. Rashaad Penny wasn’t even a Day 2 consideration by many going into last January. Then he dominated both the week’s practices and the game itself. A few months later the Seattle Seahawks shocked the world by taking him in the 1st round. The same goes for Haason Reddick the year before.

A linebacker from Temple, nothing about him really stood out going into the weekly activities other than his solid production and tape. Then he was all over the field during practices and stood out in the game. The Arizona Cardinals made him their 1st round pick. So nobody can say this event doesn’t matter. It absolutely does and the same opportunity is at hand for the 2019 crop of seniors.

The question is who among them have the most to gain by having a great week? Here are five names to keep an eye on.

Daniel Jones (QB, Duke)

If there is one quarterback will so much to gain in Mobile, it has to be Jones. He certainly has the attention of NFL scouts. Not only is he 6’5 with mobility and a strong arm, but he’s also been molded by the same man who developed both Peyton and Eli Manning. That puts him on a platform few QBs enjoy this early in the draft process. If Jones can deliver a string of good practices and some big plays in the game, his stock with skyrocket.

Anthony Johnson (WR, Buffalo)

Buffalo didn’t use to be a school known for producing NFL prospects but Khalil Mack changed that. Now it seems another unexpected name is surfacing. Anthony Johnson produced 25 touchdown catches in the past two years. He has the makeup of a receiver with a nice combination of 6’2 size and considerable speed. Nothing excites teams today more than weapons who are bigger and can run. If he puts both on display, his name will be on a lot more lips by April.

Nate Davis (OL, Charlotte)

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Offensive linemen love the Senior Bowl because it’s a rare occasion where they can showcase their skills on television thanks to the practices. It is a huge opportunity in particular for kids from smaller schools who played well but aren’t talked about due to their status. That’s why Nate Davis will be motivated to do well. He was a standout tackle for Charlotte, but teams will likely see him as a guard or center in the pros. He’ll make himself lots of money if he can make the change quickly.

Jaylon Ferguson (EDGE, Louisiana State)

The 2019 draft class is stacked to the brim with good defensive line prospects. That’s going to make it harder for guys to not only get noticed but have a shot to somehow climb their way into the 1st round. Jaylon Ferguson would normally be in the conversation alone thanks to his strong mix of athleticism and size (6’5, 262 lbs). However, in order for him to crack that barrier, he has to prove he can do to what he did in school (45 sacks) against the better competition here.

Nasir Adderly (S, Delaware)

Delaware was made famous by Joe Flacco years back but nobody has ever taken it seriously as a defensive school. That may be changing. Bilal Nichols already did some big things for the Bears this past year and it’s possible Nasir Adderly is considerably more talented. He’s 6’0 with eight interceptions over his final two years in school and has a strong reputation for instinct and toughness for the safety position. It would be a fun story to watch his rise if he stood out in Mobile.

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