Position re-grades: QB | RB | WR | TE | DT | LB | OLB/DE | CB | SAF
Position previews: QB | RB | WR | TE | DT | LB | OLB/DE | CB | SAF
Leading up to Senior Bowl week, I do 15-30 minutes of scouting preview work on each prospect set to attend -- watching a couple game tapes and looking over some performance data, etc., and then I give each prospect a pre-event scouting grade for the NFL based on that brief look.
After we scout their performance at the Senior Bowl week of practices, drills, etc., we update the grades and comments and re-rank. We continue to go through the same process for the NFL Combine, as we build a study for 2023 draft prospects until we ultimately choose to do an even deeper study of certain prospects and publish a full scouting report and run our computer scouting models for numerical grades on over 600+ prospects for the NFL Draft.
After watching the Senior Bowl practices live and on tape, I've re-graded the group and added new commentary where needed. This is a very brief look for me, as a scout, to start to build my data and scouting notes for the weeks and months ahead, and to be ready to focus in on certain prospects in Mobile that are jumping at me from the early preview.
This is a second look (for me) at these prospects from a Senior Bowl perspective. We'll be looking at them again for the NFL Combine coming up…as we build our scouting profile and metrics on these prospects. My impressions/grading can and will change as we go through the year-long process.
Post-Senior Bowl week, here are my impressions, re-grades, and re-ranking of each position (except O-Line, we'll look at OLs after the Combine).
The safeties…
SAF J.L. Skinner, Boise State (Post-SB Grade: A-, Pre-SB Grade: B+)
2022: 36 solo, 29 asst tackles, 0.5 TFLs, 4 INTs, 5 PDs (12 games)
6'4"/211
Projected 40-time: 4.45+
Projected 3-Cone: 6.95 +/-
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 75
Post-SB Comments:
This event helped Skinner rise up/secure a top 100 overall status…if not a top 50 ultimately. Usually the safeties don't/can't shine in an event like this because the drills feature CBs vs. WRs more (while SAF sit that out), but Skinner was participating in the WR v. DB cover drills and holding his own.
Not only did he show cover skills/ability but he also was working some as a 4-3 OLB in some set ups on defense in 11-on-11s. He showed off an array of talents and thus we moved him to our top SAF post-week because of his versatility, on top of obvious skills.
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Pre-SB Comments:
Skinner has a chance to be an 'A' grade safety prospect. Great muscular, sturdy build…like a sleek linebacker but moves like a safety, and hits like a linebacker. Could lay claim to the label of 'hardest hitting safety in the draft'.
Worked on improving cover skills in 2022 after being a menace as a run stopper/tackler in 2021 (92 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 2 FF). Really liked what I saw here. The NFL Combine will determine if he's a possible 1st-round/2nd-round prospect.
NFL Comp? = Kyle Dugger
SAF Daniel Scott, Cal (Post-SB Grade: A-, Pre-SB Grade: A)
2022: 57 solo, 28 asst tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 3 INTs, 4 PDs, 2 FF
6'0"/210
Projected 40-time: 4.4+
Projected 3-Cone: 6.7+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 175
Post-SB Comments:
Was kinda quiet during the week, but the practice week in Mobile is not a place for safeties or RBs or LBs to shine, especially in the 1-on-1 drills that excludes many of them from the real/interesting battles. But you could see him doing fine in 11-on-11s, and you could see him start to show his skills a little bit in the live game itself. Scott didn't hurt himself in Mobile but didn't really catch fire/gain attention either.
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Pre-SB Comments:
Wow. The best movement skills I've seen in a while from a SAF prospect. Great footspeed…excellent acceleration/closing speed with fantastic agility/ability to change direction to hunt down tacklers and cover in the passing game. I am looking forward to studying this guy deeper because my intro/preview was a 'wow'…and we're lucky if there are 1-2-3 'wow' prospects I see ahead of the Senior Bowl. Last year, Marcus Jones was an early 'wow' (for me) from the Senior Bowl, as one that comes to mind.
NFL Comp? = A bigger, better Jalen Pitre?
SAF Sydney Brown, Illinois (Post-SB Grade: B-, Pre-SB Grade: B-/C+)
2022: 41 solo, 19 asst tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.0 sacks, 6 INTs, 1 INT ret. TD, 1 Fumb. ret. TD
6'0"/213
Projected 40-time: 4.45+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 100
Post-SB Comments:
Stood out Senior Bowl week as a hard worker, high effort box safety. Brown always seemed to be around the play/ball. His twin brother was at RB in this event, so both guys/twins has some natural attention on them already as 'a story'. Definitely didn't hurt his draft stock here.
Came in 13 pounds bigger/thicker…that helps his cause.
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Pre-SB Comments:
A very talented athlete as a SAF, sometimes linebacker. Has amazing hands…almost a WR playing safety but built like a muscular satellite RB. He's aggressive, a good tackler, and decent in coverage. He may not be a star in the NFL, but he'll be useful on defense and special teams.
NFL Comp? = Has a little Antoine Winfield in him, possibly…a taller version, but maybe not as fast.
SAF Jay Ward, LSU (Post-SB Grade: C+, Pre-SB Grade: C+)
2022: 43 solo, 17 asst tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 4 PDs
6'1"/186
Projected 40-time: 4.45
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0 +/-
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 150
Post-SB Comments:
Ward didn't stand out as something special here, for me, but I did notice a few times making solid plays. He held his grade…didn't hurt or radically harm or help his draft stock here…more helped/solidified.
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Pre-SB Comments:
A really solid 'football player', emphasis on football player. The guy has a nose for getting to ball carriers and making tackles, picking his way past traffic/blockers and making clean/quality tackles. He has played both corner and safety at LSU. Feels like a safety from the tape but is a little thinner then you'd typically like at NFL safety. He could easily be 'B' grade talent with more study and if his play shines at the Senior Bowl.
NFL Comp? = Julian Blackmon
SAF Jordan Battle, Alabama (Post-SB Grade: C+, Pre-SB Grade: C+)
2022: 34 solo, 37 asst tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PD (13 games)
6'1"/210
Projected 40-time: 4.5+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0 +/-
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 60
Post-SB Comments:
Did not show up/participate.
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Pre-SB Comments:
Battle is a solid NFL prospect safety. The 'Alabama' label gets him to a top 100 ranking. Had he gone to Missouri he'd be a day three safety, potentially. He's fine but is generically a good safety, nothing worth over-drafting.
It looks like Battle took a year off in 2022 (just drifted around deep at safety not really standing out on the field)…like, he knew he had a nice 2021 season and got respect/draft buzz and then mailed it in 2022 season to protect his draft stock. Is he the 2021 playmaker or the 2022 snooze?
He was a B- for me in our 2022 summer Devy series.
NFL Comp? = Terrell Edmonds…maybe could be a Marcus Maye instead.
SAF Chamarri Conner, Va Tech (Post-SB Grade: C, Pre-SB Grade: C)
2022: 38 solo, 29 asst tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 2 PDs (11 games)
6'0"/205
Projected 40-time: 4.45+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0 +/-
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 300
Post-SB Comments:
Conner did fine. Had a moment or two of standing out. I do not have any real positive or negative notes from the week on him.
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Pre-SB Comments:
Some places list him as a CB prospect, but he looks to me like a clear SAF prospect. I watched him playing half SAF/half LB in the tape I had. In 2019, he registered 10.0 TFLs and 5.5 sacks as a more linebacker-ish type DB.
Really good instincts. Quick to the ball/ballcarriers and a very good tackler. I think he'll be a 'riser' after the Senior Bowl week. He can also cover WRs well working as a strict DB. Very useful prospect here.
NFL Comp? = Has some Talanoa Hufanga in him, potentially.
SAF DeMarcco Hellams, Alabama (Post-SB Grade: C, Pre-SB Grade: C)
2022: 67 solo (led SEC), 41 asst tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FF (13 games)
6'1"/213
Projected 40-time: 4.5+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0 +/-
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 250
Post-SB Comments:
Weighed in but did not participate in anything on-field that I can recall.
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Pre-SB Comments:
Hellams looked a whole lot better than teammate (SAF) Jordan Battle did in 2022 season. Hellams looked like he was playing for a future, while Battle played like he was trying to protect his future. It's so hard to tell on these Alabama safeties because they play on all-star team that allows them to do things they won't be able to in the NFL.
Hellams 2022 looks a lot like Battle 2021, for Alabama. Both are legit NFL prospects but they're not off the charts…but they'll be over-drafted because of the 'Alabama' label. They both look good-not-great to me at first glance. The NFL Combine data will help to separate them.
NFL Comp? = Marcus Maye
SAF Christopher Smith, Georgia (Post-SB Grade: C-, Pre-SB Grade: C+)
2022: 45 solo, 16 asst tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 3 INTs, 5 PD, 1 FF
5'10"/188
Projected 40-time: 4.45+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 75
Post-SB Comments:
I don't have many notes on him…so, neither good nor bad here. I'm looking for guys to stand out, but Smith did not. Came in an inch and 5 pounds lighter than expected -- which does not help his draft case.
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Pre-SB Comments:
A good-looking safety prospect from the Georgia factory. A 'plus' athlete and a decent tackler with good closing speed but a little smaller than you'd like from an NFL Draft prospect at safety. His size is not a draft-killing thing, just that it's 'not optimal'. Could easily be a 'B' range prospect after the Combine and when we run all the data.
NFL Comp? = Jalen Thompson
SAF Jammie Robinson, Florida State (Post-SB Grade: C-, Pre-SB Grade: C)
2022: 46 solo, 53 asst tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 1 INT, 5 PDs
5'11"/194
Projected 40-time: 4.45+
Projected 3-Cone: 6.9+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 150
Post-SB Comments:
A few positive notes, no real negatives. He did fine/held his draft stock here.
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Pre-SB Comments:
Nice movement skills, but not as purposed/controlled as some of the top safety prospects…which makes him a so-so tackler because he can overrun things, and he tries to grab jerseys and arm tackles a little too much. There is raw clay/a good athlete base to work with here. He looks like he's better as a cover safety or possible move to slot corner if he could handle it.
NFL Comp? = Vonn Bell with some Budda Baker-like movement ability, but not the refined skill.
SAF Marte Mapu, Sacramento (Post-SB Grade: D+, Pre-SB Grade: D)
2022: 42 solo, 34 asst tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2 INTs, 4 PD, 1 FF
6'3"/217
Projected 40-time: 4.6+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 300
Post-SB Comments:
Interesting prospect. Was a safety in college. Looking at his in-season tape he didn't seem like that great of safety/hitter/player. But he was active and aggressive at the Senior Bowl…played like his life depending on it. They moved him to SAF/LB hybrid some and he did well enough.
I think he should move to cornerback with his length, but he may not have the speed for it. 80" wingspan.
NFL Comp? = A safety who needs to move to CB. Maybe an inferior Tycen Anderson?
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Pre-SB Comments:
Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year. Late addition to the Senior Bowl. Didn't preview much. Looks like he needs to move to cornerback.
NFL Comp? = A safety who needs to move to CB.
SAF Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State (Post-SB Grade: D+, Pre-SB Grade: D+)
2022: 56 solo, 18 asst tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 3 PDs, 2 FF (13 games)
5'11"/208
Projected 40-time: 4.5+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 150
Post-SB Comments:
He accepted his invitation, but he didn't show up. Unsure why.
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Pre-SB Comments:
Was not grabbed by anything I saw here. He looked OK. Floated around the field a lot with no impact/plays made (on the tape I watched) and is a so-so tackler, maybe too 'so-so' and it gets him undrafted. NFL body, decent movement skills, no real great football prowess revealed.
NFL Comp? = Jeremy Reaves
SAF Kaevon Merriweather, Iowa (Post-SB Grade: D, Pre-SB Grade: D)
2022: 35 solo, 12 asst tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 3 INTs, 3 PD, 1 FF (12 games)
6'0"/207
Projected 40-time: 4.5+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 250
Post-SB Comments:
Had an OK enough week in Mobile. May have solidified himself as a later day three pick. Didn't see anything special but he worked hard and didn't embarrass himself that I saw.
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Pre-SB Comments:
Didn't show me anything exciting on tape. Solid movement skills. Easily gets lost, blocked, or is out of the play in some way shape or form in the games I watched. He has an NFL body, but I didn't see the skills yet for the next level. We may see them in Mobile.
NFL Comp? = Essang Bassey
SAF Jartavius Martin, Illinois (Post-SB Grade: D, Pre-SB Grade: D)
2022: 51 solo, 13 asst tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 3 INTs, 11 PD, 2 FF
6'0"/195
Projected 40-time: 4.6+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 150
Post-SB Comments:
Don't have him on weigh in list, nor do I have any notes or memories…so he must have skipped for whatever reason.
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Pre-SB Comments:
Unimpressed with this preview. Played more of a slot CB/SAF hybrid role and didn't stand out…got lost in coverage a few times, missed some tackles with poor sense/technique. We'll see if he is better in Mobile.
NFL Comp? = Isaiah Dunn
