Senior Bowl buzz for 2022 NFL draft: Latest rumors on the quarterback class, top risers, best prospects, more

We're through all three days of practice sessions at the Senior Bowl, and plenty of 2022 NFL draft prospects had huge performances. Six of the class' top seven quarterbacks were on hand, along with many prospects billed for the first round. But it wasn't only draft prospects in Mobile, Alabama. Every NFL team had representatives in attendance, including coaches, front-office executives and scouts.

So what was the buzz around the University of South Alabama's facilities all week? After a week of watching the action and talking to people around the league, NFL draft analyst Todd McShay and national NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler break down what they heard and what they saw at the Senior Bowl, including nuggets on top prospects, teams to watch and more from execs and scouts around the league.

Plus, McShay takes a closer look at the best quarterbacks this week and lists his top 10 player performances across all positions. Who is rising? Who had a big week? Which teams are focused on quarterbacks, and how is the first round shaping up? Let's get into all of it. And don't miss the Senior Bowl game, featuring all of these prospects, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network.

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Top QBs | Top performers
More McShay notes
More Fowler notes

Malik Willis, Liberty (American)

McShay: It was clear this week that Willis has the most talent among the quarterbacks. The way the ball just explodes off his hand is different than the rest. Arm strength can be overrated at times, but Willis' snap-of-the-wrist effortless velocity on his throws was impressive all week long. A lot of times he has zip on his throws outside of the pocket despite not even having his feet under him. And that's another thing: With Willis' escapability, NFL defenses will need to constantly spy him. He can get out of trouble with ease, turning a 5-yard sack into a 5-yard gain.

Fowler: A few execs predicted that Willis might have the easiest time dealing with the rainy conditions this week because he has that velocity to push the ball through the wind. And that played out Wednesday with an impressive showing.

McShay: I do wonder if there's almost too much zip on his throws at times, though. He missed the mark on some intermediate timing throws because he has a tendency to always try to drill a hole in his receiver's chest. Not everything has to be the 100 mph fastball, and Willis is going to have to learn when and how to take a little off and get more arc to hit his windows, especially when throwing the midrange out routes.

"If Malik isn't the first quarterback off the board, I'd be shocked if he's not the second" - @McShay13 pic.twitter.com/im2bMXelot

— Liberty Football (@LibertyFootball) February 4, 2022

Fowler: One AFC exec told me, "He played better last year than this year, but he's super athletic, runs well and has a quick release. That's going to be tough for some to ignore." Another added that Willis looked the best but is best-suited to sit Year 1 so he can work on seeing the whole field, going through progressions instead of picking one side.

McShay: The key for me is getting him in the right situation. Liberty coach Hugh Freeze told me this week that he brings a ton of energy to the team and his confidence never wavers. If a coaching staff can channel that energy and build around his strengths, I don't see a reason why he couldn't play right away in the NFL. Let Willis learn on the job and get him the game reps. He gets out of trouble in the pocket quickly and has the arm strength to hit windows all over the field. He has some things to work on, but a team that goes all in on his skill set -- think about what Buffalo did with Josh Allen over the past few years -- his ceiling is high.

Fowler: In interviews with teams, Willis came across as humble and coachable, to the point where one exec wondered whether Willis actually knows how good he can be. Teams get it: Willis was a three-star recruit who transferred from Auburn and faced an uncertain football future before thriving at Liberty under Freeze. But teams hope he capitalizes on the expanding spotlight by taking a starting job sooner than later.

Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh (National)

McShay: Pickett struggled Wednesday in the rainy, windy conditions. He has to work harder to get the ball out in those settings. Regardless of how strongly you weigh that, it's a factor team evaluators need to consider. When the season is on the line in December and January, when the weather turns sour, you don't want to be worrying about it. Ideally, he ends up with a team that plays in a dome stadium and/or warmer weather.

Fowler: After those Wednesday struggles, Pickett did impress some NFL teams with his bounce-back performance in the indoor facility Thursday. One AFC scout noted Pickett's strong intermediate-level throws and called him a "baller," while also admitting that Pickett might not have the high-level traits of the league's top passers. "He can definitely be a functional quarterback in an NFL offense, especially one that doesn't want the quarterback to lose the game with sloppy decision-making," the scout said.

McShay: Yeah, Thursday was Pickett's best practice. He was in control, excelling with his reads and getting the ball where it needed to go on time. The red zone work was outstanding. That's where things get tight and the reads get faster, and it was interesting to see him really put on a show there. The bottom line is you know what you're getting with Pickett. He's more polished than Willis, but his ceiling might be lower.

Fowler: Multiple execs have actually used the term "safe" when describing Pickett to me, in that you know what you're getting with him. An AFC exec called Pickett "probably [the] most pro-ready" despite not wowing much this week. And you weren't the only one impressed with his red zone work Thursday, Todd. Many execs pointed it out when talking about his game after Pickett found open targets there both inside and to the corners.

Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati (National)

McShay: I really do like just about everything about Ridder's game. He has the 6-foot-3, 207-pound frame. He's mobile. He has a good arm. And he's a proven winner. But nothing really changed this week with the inconsistent ball placement. He's on the money more often than not but just inexplicably misses in the strike zone on too many passes.

Fowler: NFL teams really want to like Ridder, with his intangibles, size, mobility and pretty good arm strength. "The accuracy is a problem," said an NFC exec, "particularly when under duress." And that issue showed up in spurts during the week, though he did clean up some of those problems during an improved Thursday session. An AFC exec thought he threw it better than expected in Mobile -- "definitely better than against Alabama [in the College Football Playoff]."

Sam Howell, QB, UNC (American)

McShay: One of two things tend to happen with Howell, and we saw a little of both this week. First, he can get lax with his feet on throws, not setting them and not driving off of his back foot -- though he doesn't necessarily need to with his arm strength. Second, he gets frenzied feet when he is going through progressions, where they aren't married to his eyes. After running an offense at UNC that featured a lot of run-pass options and deep rail shots, he will see more intermediate anticipatory throws than he's used to in the NFL. And that means he needs to work on his footwork.

Fowler: I got mixed feedback on Howell. Some scouts liked that he aggressively attacked downfield, completing a few darts that got their attention. Others thought he struggled. One AFC exec said he's a borderline backup-level talent but could start if in the right situation. "He's got ability but [I'm] unsure if he can do it on his own ... needs the right pieces to be successful," the exec said.

McShay: Howell was probably the most steady quarterback in Mobile. He didn't have a ton of "wow" moments but he was more consistent than the other five. It was a good week for him and the arm strength showed. I had him over Ridder coming into the week and I came away feeling even better about that.

Zion Johnson, G/C, Boston College (National)

McShay: Johnson was not only the best interior lineman this week. In my eyes, he was the best player. I watched some elite pass-rush prospects bull-rush linemen and drive them back. Then they would try the same moves on Johnson, and it wasn't working. His tape is outstanding, and he was terrific in Mobile.

Fowler: He caught the eye of several scouts and coaches with his steady play. One NFC scout noted that Johnson has a computer science degree and plays like it -- he's a very technical player. And a few teams took notice of the significant additional time he spent after each practice to work on his shotgun snapping.

McShay: Yeah, that included bonus snaps in a driving rainstorm Wednesday. Coaches wanted to see him at center this week, and he put in the time. Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy has said Johnson reminds him of Arizona Cardinals center Rodney Hudson, and I think it's a great comp. Hudson was primarily a guard in college and moved into a center role in the NFL. And Johnson started at guard, moved to left tackle in 2020, ended up back at guard this season and is now getting some looks as a potential center at the next level. But regardless of where he ends up playing, he is as safe as can be as a prospect, with little missing outside of a set position. Johnson is probably an early Day 2 pick, but it wouldn't surprise me if a team fell in love with his versatility and took him in the late-first round.

Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia (American)

Fowler: It was interesting to see Wyatt command the attention of spectators this week. His power and quickness were evident.

McShay: Some defensive linemen are all hands. Some are all about quickness and speed. But Wyatt ties his feet and hands together so well. His feet are always moving while he's working on blockers with his upper-body strength. He was already in the first-round conversation coming into the Senior Bowl, but he put a stamp on it this week.

Logan Hall, DL, Houston (National)

McShay: Hall trimmed down a little to 278 pounds, but he carries the weight well and plays stronger than that would suggest. He's active with his hands, quick and ultraversatile. I could see him playing defensive end or 4-technique in a 4-3 scheme, or the 5-technique or nose tackle in a 3-4. Watching him this week, I struggle with why he isn't in the first-round conversation. Maybe it's simply because he doesn't have a true fit. Versatility can work for and against you. But personally, I love a player who offers the ability to play all over the place.

Fowler: Hall is considered one of the most intriguing players at the Senior Bowl because of his hybrid status. Many evaluators look at him like a tweener -- but not in a bad way. He has good length (6-6, 33 3/8-inch arms), but at his weight, evaluators see him as more of a sub-package inside rusher who might need to kick out wider in a base defense. One AFC exec compared Hall to a mix of rangy New Orleans Saints defenders: fellow Cougars standout Payton Turner, last year's first-round pick, and Tanoh Kpassagnon, a former second-round pick by the Chiefs in 2017. "We think the kid is solid," an AFC scout said. "You can use him in a lot of different ways." Added an AFC exec: "[He's] still a little raw but has versatility, plays hard, physical, very athletic."

Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State (American)

Fowler: Johnson performed so well in Mobile that a few scouts joked that his agent should pull him. Johnson ultimately wasn't at practice Thursday for unspecified reasons, but many thought he had done enough to bolster his stock.

McShay: I actually heard he is pushing to play in the game Saturday, which shows you how competitive he is as a player. Johnson is long and a smooth mover, and he plays hard. That relentless effort was on display all season with Florida State, too, despite a tough year for the Seminoles. I'd be shocked if Johnson wasn't a Day 1 pick.

Fowler: Florida State head coach Mike Norvell told me Johnson is among the most NFL-ready guys he has coached.

OTHER NOTES, QUOTES AND BUZZ

McShay

• It's no big secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers need a quarterback. I noticed that GM Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin were on the field a lot more than most GM/coach pairings. They watched some of the defensive groups, but the moment the practice sessions turned to 7-on-7 drills or anything team-related involving the QBs, the duo beelined to study the signal-callers for the rest of practice.

• We outlined the top four quarterbacks above, but what about the other two? Nevada's Carson Strong made a few nice deep-ball throws, but mobility is going to be a challenge for him (though he appeared more mobile this week than he had on tape), and his short-to-intermediate accuracy was all over the place. Of all the quarterbacks, his performance was the most up and down this week. The ability is there, but scouts will need to see more consistency. And then Western Kentucky's Bailey Zappe showed a little more energy on his throws, and it came off his hand better than expected. But deep-ball throws were hanging, and I think he's probably going to be an NFL backup best fit with a rhythm/timing-based offense.

• LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. wasn't in Mobile this week (he's a junior), but NFL teams were still discussing him. Many just aren't sure what to make of his evaluation. Do you bet on his big six-interception 2019 season, or do you focus on the dip in performance, injury woes and less hunger against the run in 2020-21? Either way, the strong consensus is that Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner is the top cornerback in the class right now.

• I heard a lot about Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, including concerns that he just doesn't play with the same fire as some other top prospects. His ceiling is high, but the floor is lower than what you want for a top-five pick. And based on a handful of conversations, it wouldn't shock me if Thibodeaux fell out of the top five. Speaking of which, it was very apparent this week that the top of the draft isn't nearly as set as it normally is at this point. Picks at the top of the first round might be a little more based on team flavor than recent years.

• Zion Johnson, Devonte Wyatt, Logan Hall and Jermaine Johnson II were my top four performers this week. If you knew nothing before and dropped into Mobile, those are the guys who would have stood out as the top guys. Filling out my top 10, in order: Colorado State tight end Trey McBride, Alabama defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, Baylor safety Jalen Pitre, Cincinnati edge rusher Myjai Sanders, Western Kentucky edge rusher DeAngelo Malone and UTSA cornerback Tariq Woolen.

• McBride led a strong group of pass-catchers, making contested catches and timing his jumps well. He also proved effective as an in-line blocker against higher-level defensive linemen this week. And while he is only 6-3, he plays like a bigger tight end. McBride is a complete player and projects as a plug-and-play starter. Beyond McBride, Coastal Carolina's Isaiah Likely moved from TE4 to TE2 on my board after his showing. It was my first time seeing him live, and he understands routes so well. Likely knows how to get separation, and his ball skills are solid. Then at wide receiver, Boise State's Khalil Shakir got off press and in and out of his breaks super quickly. He can play outside, but I think he projects as a great slot receiver who is a reliable target and transitions upfield well. Nevada's Romeo Doubs might not be as quick in and out of breaks as Shakir, but his straight-line speed is noteworthy. He ran 21.2 mph, the third-fastest time. I love his ball skills and speed.

• Pitre isn't the biggest defensive back, but versatility is key. Some around the league have likened him to Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu, in that he can play the overhang, deep or off the edge. He's sometimes there as the ball is getting handed off, thanks to his lightning quicks, instincts and suddenness.

• Speaking of speed, Woolen ran 22 mph in practice this week and is rumored to be in the 4.45-second range in the 40-yard dash. Plus, he has 33.5-inch arms. That's left-tackle length for a cornerback. Woolen has converted-receiver ball skills and excels in bump-and-run coverage.

• Mathis led an impressive defensive tackle group. He is disruptive, and his sack count spiked to nine this season with more playing time. The Alabama interior lineman is a top-50 pick. Oklahoma's Perrion Winfrey, a classic 3-technique, dominated the one-on-ones this week. LSU's Neil Farrell Jr. might not look the part, but he's big, strong and always around the ball. I think he has been overlooked a bit, but he should be drafted in the first two rounds -- and potentially in the top 50.

• Off the edge, Cincinnati's Sanders showed elite first-step quickness and lots of shock in his hands. He still needs to improve his counter moves, but he can be effective even when he doesn't get home. He had seven pressures on just 25 pass-rush snaps in the Bearcats' College Football Playoff loss to Alabama. And Malone is a big, long and powerful 3-4 outside linebacker. There's suddenness as a pass-rusher and tons of range in coverage. I think he's a lock to go at least in the second round.

• Small-school guys were fun to watch. Montana State linebacker Troy Andersen flies all over the field and is always around the ball. He stood out in every practice session. Don't be surprised if he's a late-Day 2 selection. Then Missouri State defensive lineman Eric Johnson was overpowering all week long. I have to go back to the tape on him, but he could be a great 5-technique in a 3-4 scheme. And finally, Chattanooga interior offensive lineman Cole Strange played a little center this week, and you can tell he's coachable. He didn't lose many of his first reps, but when he did, he never lost a second one.

Fowler

• Teams are expecting plenty of trade attempts high in the draft. With no clear-cut quarterback options in the top 10, several teams will want to move back -- possibly even the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 1.

• A few execs will be watching the New York Jets closely, too. New York has four of the first 38 picks, including two in the top 10. They could flip those four selections into two or three premium players with a move up. GM Joe Douglas loves linemen, so that's always in play, but the Jets also need help at tight end and in the secondary.

• Based on a bunch of conversations over the course of the week, teams believe these players haven't gotten enough credit or buzz in the early draft process: Pitre, Malone, LSU linebacker Damone Clark, Penn State defensive back Tariq Castro-Fields, UConn defensive tackle Travis Jones, Texas A&M linebacker Aaron Hansford, North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson and South Carolina running back ZaQuandre White.

• As Todd pointed out, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert were on the field and glued to the practice action. They chatted up Malik Willis after the Tuesday session, though that doesn't mean much this early in the process. In other quarterback market news, the Carolina Panthers sent a large contingent to the practices.