2025 NFL Draft: Biggest winners from the Senior Bowl saw their stocks skyrocket again on game day with huge performances
The 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl is all wrapped up. Nearly 150 of the 2025 NFL Draft prospects spent a week down in Mobile, Alabama showcasing their skills in front of all 32 NFL teams and media. Which players benefited the most as "winners" from the Senior Bowl, helping their NFL Draft stock? Many of the […]
The 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl is all wrapped up. Nearly 150 of the 2025 NFL Draft prospects spent a week down in Mobile, Alabama showcasing their skills in front of all 32 NFL teams and media. Which players benefited the most as "winners" from the Senior Bowl, helping their NFL Draft stock? Many of the same names who starred all week at practice saw their stocks skyrocket again on game day.
Jack Bech, WR TCU
No other player at the Senior Bowl had a more impressive week and in-game performance than Jack Bech, WR TCU. He caught six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown, including the game-winning score. And he also dominated the contested catch game in one-on-ones all week long.
Bech won the Senior Bowl MVP for his stunning performance, giving credit to and honoring his brother Tiger Bech who died in the New Orleans terrorist attack just one month ago.
Bech was not only the biggest story at the Senior Bowl due to his playing so hard for his brother, but he was also likely the biggest riser among all the players at the event. Bech was perhaps a fourth or fifth round pick prior to Senior Bowl week (based on large sample mock draft data). Now he's likely a day two pick for sure.
Defensive Line Stars
The 2025 NFL Draft is stacked with good defense linemen and edge defenders and the best of the best did not disappoint. Walter Nolen and Deone Walker looked the part all week in practice. Rising stars like Mike Green (of Marshall) dominated too. But the real heroes of the Senior Bowl game were not the highest expected draft picks along the defensive front.
Sai'vion Jones, defensive lineman from LSU, put together an incredible week of practice, but then took his game to a whole new level in the Senior Bowl game. Jones brought pressure on what seemed like every single snap as he racked up a sack (and maybe a half) in the contest. He was likely a fringe day two player prior to the Senior Bowl week, but he could rise as high as the second round now.
Junior Tafuna (DL, Utah) and Darius Alexander (DL, Toledo) both put on a show in the game too, but those on site all week at practice were already familiar with their pass rushing prowess. In fact, the tandem quite often played off of each other's success, working together in practice to force quarterbacks to a certain spot as you can see on both sacks in the post below.
Junior Tafuna had the most productive Senior Bowl game, racking up a sack and a fumble recovery, but Darius Alexander forced multiple pass rush pressures too.
Femi Oladejo of UCLA also dominated with multiple pressures, impressing the commentators on the broadcast. He was one who also lit up practice reps, wowing all the scouts and media all week long. This trio of Tafuna, Alexander, and Oladejo were all late day three draft projections prior to this week, but could rise multiple rounds after dominating top competition.
Jaxson Dart, QB Ole Miss
Jaxson Dart is turning out to be one of the most polarizing prospects in the entire 2025 NFL Draft. In a class that lacks prototypical first round talents at quarterback, many are starting to realize that he belongs among the top options this year.
However, for some there were still doubts with Dart coming into Senior Bowl week. For those who paid much attention this week, those doubts have dissipated as he continues to rise up NFL Draft boards.
Jaxson Dart kicked off his Senior Bowl game performance with a bang on Saturday. He connected with Jack Bech on a deep post route for what was likely the play of the entire game (as you can see in the post below). Then he finished the drive off with a rushing touchdown and two-point conversion to Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
Dart did end up taking a sack on his second drive and slightly underthrew Georgia's Arian Smith, but overall he impressed once again. It's quite clear that Dart is, at worst, the QB3 in the 2025 NFL Draft class and could certainly be selected inside the first round now.
Caleb Ransaw, DB Tulane
The defensive backs had a rather quiet week in Senior Bowl practices, but Caleb Ransaw was one player that stood out in one-on-ones, sticking to the hip of offensive playmakers on most reps. Then when game day came Ransaw made the defensive play of the first half, picking off Louisville's Tyler Shough in the red zone.
Ransaw was likely a late day three draft pick prior to the Senior Bowl practices, but after impressing much of the week and tallying five sacks, a pass defended, and an interception in the game he's definitely going to be an earlier selection than many believed.
We'll be back with more NFL Draft coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!