NFL Draft Notebook: Cole Wisniewski and two Iowa Hawkeyes shine at Shrine Bowl

We’re in the heart of All-Star season with the East-West Shrine Bowl taking place tonight and the Senior Bowl already in practice. This week’s NFL Draft Notebook highlights several players who stood out at the Shrine Bowl, a Vikings prospect to watch at the Senior Bowl, and more.

Cole Wisniewski’s NFL stock is moving up

Perhaps no player had a better week at the East-West Shrine Bowl than Texas Tech’s Cole Wisniewski. He stood out against both the run and the pass. Against the run, the 6-foot-3, 213-pound strong safety was physical and decisive, showing the instincts and toughness to thrive in that role. He also held up well in coverage, especially on Day 2, consistently closing cushion and proving he can survive downfield. Overall, he showed the skill set of a player who can contribute as a strong safety and core special teams piece at the next level.

Hawkeyes shine at Shrine Bowl

It was a strong week for the Hawkeyes at the Shrine Bowl as two offensive prospects stood out. Wide receiver Kaden Wetjen impressed the most, creating separation consistently and showing strong kick return skills, which could make him a fourth-round pick. Quarterback Mark Gronowski also turned heads with several big throws throughout the week. He didn’t put up huge passing numbers this season, in part because he started the year dealing with a shoulder injury. Expect a team that values a quarterback who can run to consider taking him in the seventh round.

Mason Reiger was the standout lineman

On the defensive side of the ball at the East-West Shrine Game, Wisconsin’s Mason Reiger stood out. He showed impressive burst off the ball as a pass rusher, and it’s easy to see why he recorded five sacks and earned an 83 PFF pass-rushing grade. Against the run, he held up well at the point of attack and, on one snap in particular, flashed his ability to long-arm his blocker. He went from an undrafted free agent grade to a late-round grade on my board based on his performance this week.

Must add size

One of the biggest priorities for Oregon cornerback Jadon Canady is adding weight to his 5-foot-10 frame. He weighed in at just 175 pounds at the East-West Shrine Bowl, making him the lightest player at the event, and that lack of size will likely limit the role he can play at the next level. It would not be surprising if some teams remove him from their draft board altogether, as he does not meet their minimum measurable thresholds for the position.

Impressive measurables

One player who stood out at East-West Shrine Bowl weigh-ins was Florida State defensive tackle Darrell Jackson. He measured in at 6-foot-5, 328 pounds with 35-inch arms, the longest at the event. That size, paired with his ability to clog running lanes, makes him an ideal fit as a nose tackle or 1-tech defensive tackle and should position him as a high Day 3 pick.

Vikings Senior Bowl prospect to watch

One position the Vikings will likely target is defensive tackle, as both Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen are over 30. A prospect who could develop as a nose tackle behind Hargrave is Arkansas’s Cameron Ball. The 6-foot-5, 323-pound prospect has the size to fit in the Vikings’ defensive front and is surprisingly agile for his frame. Over the past two seasons, Ball has recorded 8.5 tackles for loss.

Falcons return man

One area the Atlanta Falcons need to improve this offseason is special teams, especially kickoff returns. Last season, they finished dead last in the NFL, averaging just 22.9 yards per kickoff return, and had seven different players handle the role. A late-round draft prospect who could immediately help is LSU’s Barion Brown, who holds the SEC record with six career kickoff return touchdowns, five of them coming during his first three seasons at Kentucky. Look for Falcons scouts to be paying close attention to him this week at the Senior Bowl.

Mendoza limited in predraft process

According to Tony Pauline of EssentiallySports, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be very limited in the predraft process. He is not expected to do a Combine workout, a pro-day workout, or even a throwing session for the Raiders. That makes sense. Mendoza is all but locked in as the likely number one pick after a standout season, and with Dante Moore returning to Oregon, there’s no quarterback pushing him for the spot. Participating in any of these activities could only risk hurting his draft stock.

Dolphins draft target

A player who fits perfectly for the Miami Dolphins is Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds, who officially declared for the NFL Draft last week. The Dolphins, who had the worst secondary in the NFL and allowed 72% of passes thrown their way to be completed, need an upgrade in the secondary. Ponds is the top pure nickel corner in the draft and comes off a playoff run that earned him defensive MVP honors in both the Rose and Peach Bowls. He would be an ideal Day 2 selection for Miami.

Dangerous after the catch

Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. is one of the best after-the-catch receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is among the national leaders in forced missed tackles after the catch and averages 7.2 yards after the catch, according to PFF. It shows up on tape immediately. He has excellent contact balance, real play strength, and consistently runs through arm tackles instead of going down on first contact. He also brings reliable hands and routinely finishes difficult catches in traffic. That skill set gives him clear value on underneath throws and should put him firmly in the third to fourth round conversation.

Transfer portal winner

The team that appears to have won this year’s transfer portal is LSU, landing at least three 2027 NFL Draft prospects: Sam Leavitt, Jordan Seaton, and Princewill Umanmiel. Leavitt is a mobile passer who has thrown for 34 touchdowns and just nine interceptions over the last two seasons. Jordan Seaton was the top offensive tackle in the portal according to 247Sports and could be a first-round pick next year. Princewill Umanmiel comes off his best season, recording nine sacks at Ole Miss, and enters 2026 with a top-50 NFL Draft grade.