As we approach the 2022 NFL Combine, it is important to take stock of the performances in the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game. Having that game tape to evaluate prospects is really important as we try and review who is peaking at the right time and who is running out of juice at the time they need it most.
I am going to review five risers and five fallers based on performances in these games and also review mock draft data.
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Risers
- College: Liberty
- Height: 6″1
- Weight: 220lbs
- 40 Time: 4.42 seconds
The Senior Bowl was the perfect tonic for Willis. He was always seen as the quarterback with the most upside in this class. However, in the rain at the Senior Bowl, Willis showed he is in the running to be the first quarterback drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft.
On display in Mobile was immense arm talent. Willis confirmed that he had the biggest arm there out of all the quarterbacks there. He showed the zip he could put on the ball despite the rain.
There was also a showcase of his elite athletic ability. There is no doubt Willis is gifted in that department, while also showing scouts he is comfortable being a dual-threat quarterback.
He also showed incredible touch at the Senior Bowl, which is something that scouts have been worried about. Willis has been guilty of putting too much on balls and not giving his receivers the best chance to catch balls. However, what was on display was a poised, confident, and comfortable young man who had control of his arm and the ball.
There is absolutely no doubt Willis will go in the top 20 of this draft. And, with a good combine, could even break into the top 10.
- College: Arizona State
- Height: 6″2
- Weight: 210lbs
- 40 Time: 4.46 seconds
I wrote about White recently as someone who could be under the radar. Well, not anymore. White showcased all of his skills, ripping off the longest run of the game and leading all backs in rushing yards with 52.
However, White also demonstrated his receiving skills with a nice catch. He also clocked a top speed of 21.15 MPH, which was the 3rd fastest speed clocked during the game, comfortably leading all running backs.
White demonstrated great burst, the ability to find the holes, and a comfortable running style. He also demonstrated some excellent pass protection skills in the game, which will please scouts.
His performance in the Senior Bowl has seen him rise 40 places in mock drafts in the last two weeks. As a result, White will be drafted inside the top 100 if he performs well at the NFL Combine and his pro day.
As I mentioned, he is no longer under the radar. Welcome to the draft process Rachaad White.
- College: North Dakota State
- Height: 6″4
- Weight: 211lbs
- 40 Time: 4.38 seconds
I will be honest here. I wasn’t sure Watson would get drafted. I had him around 250-260 on my big board and was not sold on him as a prospect.
At North Dakota State, he didn’t look like he ran crisp routes. He would still beat the DBs, but he would be beating them with raw athleticism and size, not technique. Therefore, when he stepped up to decent competition and played defensive backs who are smarter, more athletic, and bigger, he would struggle.
It turns out I was wrong. At the Senior Bowl, he was the pick of the receivers for me. He showed excellent hands and great technique catching the ball. However, the one thing he really demonstrated was his speed. He clocked 20.71 MPH during the game on one of his routes.
Then we get to the 38 yard catch and run. First of all, Pickett throws an awful ball. It’s short of Watson, who then makes an incredible adjustment to scoop and catch the ball before turning on the burners. It was an incredible play that showed that not only Watson deserved to be there, but he is a top 100 player.
BIG PLAY On 2nd & 9, Kenny Pickett 38-yd pass to Christian Watson .. 1st Down #National 0 #American 0 Q1 #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/RzGpp2ELIK
— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) February 5, 2022
Watson also showed great blocking in pass coverages as well. He clearly is a fast learner and can absorb coaching concepts quickly, which shouldn’t come as a big surprise since he was an excellent honor roll student.
Watson jumps into my top 100 now. However, I expect I am not the only one putting him there after this impressive performance at the Senior Bowl.
- College: Baylor
- Height: 5″11
- Weight: 211lbs
- 40 Time: 4.55 seconds
Smith was another one who impressed, despite being a player who would struggle to be taken before Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft.
He was nominated by the defensive players present as the running back Player of the Week. And he showed some of the reasons why with a 20 yard score off a swing pass by Kenny Pickett.
Smith looks a lot quicker than his 4.55 suggests, was very quick off the line, and showed good initial burst. However, it is really his footwork that shone in Mobile. His quick feet allowed him to find his lane and beat tackles all week long. It was a true surprise to see him be so effective, considering there were times in the 2021 season he was struggling in games.
Considering he only has one year of true production in college, there will be scouts willing to take a chance on Smith. I see him moving himself up into Day 2 contention after this performance.
To set expectations on Smith, due to his inexperience, I would still say his best fit is as a complementary back/back-up back in the NFL. However, with good coaching, there is always a chance he could develop into something more.
- College: Memphis
- Height: 5″8
- Weight: 173lbs
- 40 Time: 4.24 seconds
Wow, Wow, Wow!! Calvin Austin really shined at the Senior Bowl. So much so I have spent hours watching his tape. This guy is fast!
Austin is going to run in the 4.2’s at the NFL Combine, and I have no doubt he will be the fastest player there. However, what separates him from John Ross and Paris Campbell, is he knows exactly how to use his speed.
Cornerbacks could not keep up with Austin all week. Austin was schooling defenders at the line of scrimmage and at the top of his routes. I was truly blown away by his ability of knowing which to run, when to break stride, and when to cut. He showed real maturity as a route runner.
Austin is also a guy everyone in the locker room loves. His coaches and teammates cannot put enough praise on him.
Before the Senior Bowl, there were concerns he would be bullied at the next level and become a gadget player at best. However, there is real, natural talent. You can line him up in the red zone, and he will deliver easy touchdowns if used correctly in scheme and personnel.
I am excited by the prospect of Austin. If he is still there in Round 3, expect some team to be delighted to grab him there.
Fallers
Kenny Pickett (QB)
- College: Pitt
- Height: 6″3
- Weight: 217lbs
- 40 Time: 4.89 seconds
Nobody did more to improve their draft stock more in 2021 than Kenny Pickett. Many scouts and former scouts thought Pickett would be a backup at best in the NFL. However, after a 4,319 yard, 42 touchdown season with Pitt, he seemed to tear up those projections.
However, fast forward to the Senior Bowl, and as quickly as he built his draft stock, he might have just crashed it. If you review the box score, you will see 6/6 89 yards and a touchdown. However, three of these balls were severely underthrown. The one I have already mentioned to Christian Watson required a monumental effort and adjustment by Watson to make the play. The touchdown was a swing pass.
In practice, Pickett struggled. He really lacked accuracy and was very late on a number of his throws. Also, out of all the quarterbacks on display, his arm strength looked the weakest. The ball came out very wobbly, and his technique looked off. I walked away from watching Kenny Pickett thinking he is Drew Lock, only without the arm strength. That is not a good recipe for someone who was in contention for the first QB being taken off the board in the draft.
While I had reservations about Pickett entering the draft process, I didn’t expect him to be as bad as he was in Mobile. My major concern with Pickett is his hand size. Only one quarterback in the NFL has been considered a success while having hands under nine inches, and that was Michael Vick.
Kenny Pickett struggled for three years in college prior to 2021. He threw a high of 13 touchdowns prior to 2021 despite being the starter for 3 years. With a larger ball, he is going to struggle more with accuracy.
If an NFL General Manager selects him with a first round pick, they will probably find themselves out of a job inside of two years. Pickett is the riskiest QB prospect in this class.
He is also almost 24 and older than Mac Jones, Jalen Hurts, Davis Mills, Jordan Love, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance. Time is not on his side.
- College: Ohio State
- Height: 6″5
- Weight: 250lbs
- 40 Time: 4.68 seconds
If anybody in this tight end class needed a strong week in Mobile, it was Ruckert. And, in all fairness, he looked strong in practice.
However, he suffered a minor foot injury before the weekend. And then, unexpectedly, his grandfather passed away, forcing him to miss the game itself, and leaving Greg Dulcich out of UCLA to steal the show.
Ruckert needed the Senior Bowl more than most because he has only caught 54 passes in his college career. It’s true he was in a program that was stacked with pass catchers. However, he did not do enough to be used as a weapon in the end zone enough, or be an option for his quarterbacks frequently enough.
The size profile and character seem to be fantastic. However, it is tough to evaluate a player who doesn’t make too many plays. The Senior Bowl was his last chance for him to put something on tape against peers. However, that wasn’t to be.
Ruckert has already slid down 20 spots on mock draft boards. And, I imagine he is likely to fall out of the top 100 when it is all said and done.
There is a player there, but he will need significant time getting up to speed in the NFL if he is going to be a success.
- College: Notre Dame
- Height: 5″9
- Weight: 199lbs
- 40 Time: 4.44 seconds
Williams has been slipping in recent mock drafts. Some of that reason is people no longer believe this class is as strong as it was likely suggested several months ago. However, part of it is because Williams has size concerns.
Let’s visit the positives first. Williams is arguably the most explosive back in this class. And he has great hands, making him a true receiving threat in the passing game.
He can also block in pass protection which is a huge plus, as those touted to be drafted around him struggle with that.
However, the reason why Williams is so explosive is because he is a very physical, aggressive, downhill runner. And, at 5″9 and 199lbs, he is not going to be able to run like that in the NFL. He will get bullied if he runs hard at people and stopped dead in his tracks. If Williams is going to be successful in the NFL, he will need to adapt and change his style. He becomes a project pick.
Therefore, while Williams does have the talent, the size concerns are seeing him move closer and closer to falling out of the top 100.
If that does happen, then Williams could potentially become a nice draft steal for a team. However, they would need to invest significant time and resources into him in order to get the best out of him at the next level.
- College: Minnesota
- Height: 6″9
- Weight: 380lbs
- 40 Time: 5.34 seconds
There was high hopes for Faalele going into Mobile. He was considered a top 40 pick, so essentially being taken at the top of the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
And why not, the man is a man mountain. At the Senior Bowl, he was at least a couple of inches taller and significantly wider and larger than the other offensive linemen present.
However, as the practices went on, something curious was developing. This man mountain was being toppled over and put on his back by defensive linemen several inches shorter and 50-70 pounds lighter. It happened not once, but time and time again.
The defensive linemen realized if they got low on Faalele, they could topple him over and remain out of his reach. Extraordinary. However, what made it more extraordinary, is it took them less than one practice to work it out.
You could tell from then that his confidence had taken a significant hit. He struggled to demonstrate power in pass blocking and was slow.
All in all, it would shock me that anyone watching this Senior Bowl performance would risk a second round pick on Faalele, despite his size. He looks like a developmental prospect at best.
- College: Nevada
- Height: 6″6
- Weight: 246lbs
- 40 Time: 4.70 seconds
Another tight end that needed a good week at the Senior Bowl but didn’t deliver was Cole Turner. However, Turner was largely anonymous in Mobile.
In fact, without really searching the web for tape, it’s hard to find anything of merit that he did during the Senior Bowl. Considering this is a player that was in many analysts top 100 going into the Senior Bowl, that is worrying.
Because he failed to demonstrate his pass catching ability against the best seniors in the country, question marks will certainly start to arise, and people will want to know, “can he perform against elite competition?”
While Turner won’t have any more game opportunities to show that, he will still receive some love at the Combine and his Pro Day. However, Turner has already dropped 40 spots in mock drafts and is down around the 120 range. It looks like Turner, with his lack of progress and game presence in Mobile, has taken himself down from a Day 2 prospect to a Day 3 prospect.
He is still worth taking, and he still has attributes that teams will fall in love with. However, right now, he carries as much risk as he does upside, which makes him the perfect Day 3 prospect.
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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @Murf_NFL.
