One of the most important weeks in the NFL draft process ended Saturday with the 71st annual Senior Bowl game. Brian Flores’ national team won 27-24 over Matt Rhule’s American group.
In keeping with tradition, the Senior Bowl offered the best seniors of college football the opportunity to showcase their skills and show their potential value to all 32 NFL teams.
The New England Patriots appreciate this game and process perhaps more than any other team, which has drafted or signed eight Senior Bowl alumni in the past two seasons alone. There will no doubt be a few more to be acquired this season, so let’s look at the guys who differentiate themselves, for better or worse.
Winner: WR Amari Rodgers
In a rare case of a player whose stock rose between his last college game and the Senior Bowl, Amari Rodgers just continued the trend with his game on Saturday. While playing in the slot and setting it wide apart, Rodgers showed a degree of versatility and success from both places. His touch comes on a big shake route between two defenders as he hits a shot, and his catch on a two-point conversion comes across the formation where he is wide open without problems.
Winner: EDGE Elerson Smith
It’s hard to have a better series than Elerson Smith had early in the first quarter. In a record of four games, he scored a quarterback hit (with a bad lead from his predecessor), a first tackle from behind and a tackle for loss at the end where he stayed at home and the edge control. . He took his defense off the field on his own. Smith played some nice plays here and there for the rest of the game, but it was that early series that landed him here.
Loser: OG Deonte Brown
It was a difficult week for the man who compared Michael Onwenu while Deonte Brown struggled to protect the pass. Early on he was blown through a strip bag. He then missed a key block on a fourth down and the running back was stopped. The foot speed and agility are nowhere near where it needs to be to play and be successful at the next level.
Winner: WR / RB Demetric Felton
We all wondered if Felton could make the switch from running back to wide receiver. Felton showed that he could act with a solid reception that displayed some fast and quick skills in the area. He also got the chance to show the running agility to pack for the attack.
Winner: FB Ben Mason
A fullback from gym rot from Michigan? Bill Belichick is on the phone while we talk.
Loser: EDGE Jordan Smith
During the draft process, I said how much I like Jordan Smith’s tools, but was concerned about his practice IQ and the coaching he received from the staff at UAB. The constant mistakes he made during Saturday’s game made it clear that he needed time if he was to be a real player at the next level.
Loser: WR Frank Darby
Frank Darby’s biggest question of the week was whether he could show consistency or not. With more drops (2) than catches (1), it is safe to say that he could not change the story. The flashes are there, and it’s pretty awesome, but he did nothing to help himself on match day.
Winner: CB Keith Taylor
Not often that you will see a man give up two touchdowns and still make one of these lists. However, unlike a small mistake and a missed call, Taylor was perfect. He has great size and height and shows incredible patience in covering man. Not a man who stops and moves a lot. The man earned him a good amount on Saturday.
Winner: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
It’s pretty obvious (6 catches for 90 yards), but Dez Fitzpatrick was wide open all day. Fitzpatrick, a fluent trail runner with reliable hands, proved he was much more than the number two receiver of Louisville. He significantly improved his traction stock. He was also wide open for a 50+ attack, but Feleipe Franks (quarterback) missed him.
Winner: RB Michael Carter
The man, who averaged 8.0 yards per carry in 2020, continued his ways by averaging 7.5 yards per rush on Saturday, including an incredible knockout that duly claimed the national team’s victory. He proved that his size should not play a factor in his draft inventory. Michael Carter is the right thing to do.
For those wondering, some potential Patriots targets from this list are Amari Rodgers, Dez Fitzpatrick and Ben Mason. Everyone played exceptionally well and played the places where New England had enough draft capital.