Senior Bowl: 5 players who most helped their 2021 NFL Draft stock

Several players improved the NFL Draft stock from a great showing at the 2021 Senior Bowl.

When an NFL Draft prospect shows out in the week leading up to the Senior Bowl, it is usually a strong indicator of how well he can perform at the next level, or how far up the draft board he will be taken.

What makes the week down in Mobile, Alabama so intriguing is that it allows the top seniors or graduating players to compete amongst themselves and be coached up by NFL staffs. This year, the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins staffs got to lead these draft prospects.

Senior Bowl standouts

5. UW-Whitewater Warhawks offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz

Every year, there is a player at a small school who makes the most of competing on this big stage. For 2021, that would be UW-Whitewater Warhawks offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz. Despite his small-school stature, Meinerz was picked by the defensive lineman as the best offensive lineman he went up against. He projects as a third or fourth-round pick.

4. UCF Knights safety Richie Grant

The defensive backfield is usually the hardest position group to project much of anything out of practice at the Senior Bowl. However, the opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers liked what they saw out of UCF Knights safety Richie Grant. The American Athletic Conference standout projects as a day-two pick.

3. Florida Gators wide receiver Kadarius Toney

Most people know about Florida Gators wide receiver Kadarius Toney. Along with quarterback Kyle Trask and tight end Kyle Pitts, this trio helped Florida win the SEC East for the first time since 2016. Toney was picked by the defensive backs as the best wide receiver in the senior bowl. He should be a lock to be second-round pick but has a chance to crack the first round if his strong offseason continues at the combine and his pro day.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels running back Michael Carter

What got lost this past season is how strong of a ground game the North Carolina Tar Heels had for Mack Brown. Michael Carter was phenomenal the last few years at UNC. The linebackers and defensive linemen picked him as the best running back at the Senior Bowl. A day-two lock, Carter could go as high as the second round.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones

There will be at least five quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. That is because Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones proved to everyone watching he is worthy of being a first-round pick. He was picked the best quarterback by the defensive backs. Jones will be presumably the fifth, possibly the fourth quarterback taken. He will likely be picked in the teens or 20s.

Overall, plenty of players made some money down in Mobile this week. To be invited to the Senior Bowl is a huge deal to begin with, but it the first step in the right direction of the NFL Draft process. For players like Carter, Grant, Jones, Meinerz and Toney, they can feel comfortable that they did enough to put themselves in fantastic situations when it comes to the upcoming draft.

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