It’s early on a Saturday morning. I’m starting to realize that I can’t have fun like I used to – four gin and tonics at 36 years old is a potent recipe for a deep heartburn that won’t let you get to sleep. Zach is still unaccounted for – I hope he survived the night. Nonetheless, it’s Senior Bowl day, and there’s still work to do.
Today, I wanted to write a little bit about who I’ve seen down here in Mobile that I’d like to see end up in that beautiful two-tone blue. We still have the game to go, but if you didn’t know already, the actual Senior Bowl itself is one of the least important items on this week’s agenda. The practices are in the books, and if you actually pay attention (I’m surprised by how many media people down here aren’t actually paying attention), that’s where you’re going to learn the most.
You’ll find that this list is pretty offensive line heavy – that’s because the Senior Bowl is an absolute gold mine when it comes to finding those meat-and-potatoes offensive linemen in the mid-to-late rounds of the NFL Draft. It happened last year, and I imagine it’ll happen again this year. But, it also addresses what I believe to be the biggest need for the Titans in a manner that is much less expensive than throwing money at free agents. Spend on a wide receiver and cornerback – build back the offensive line and pass rush here.
10 Guys From the Senior Bowl That I Want for the Titans
OT Tyler Steen – I can understand the apprehension about Steen, because the tape isn’t all that consistent, but this dude looks like a left tackle. He moves well for a man of his stature, he played with pretty decent technique, and he’s athletically gifted. If he continues to show up throughout the draft process like he did this week, he’s going to develop into a high floor left tackle prospect that the Titans could snag in the third round.
OT Jaelyn Duncan – Technique was the biggest question for Duncan going into this week, but to me, he’s shown a willingness to be coached, and we’ve seen demonstrated improvement in technique from where he was when he got here. He is one of the more physically gifted prospects in this offensive line class, but it looks like he’s starting to put it all together. Don’t be surprised if Duncan ends up being a first rounder by the time it’s all said and done.
C John Michael Schmitz – If we’re making an overall “Senior Bowl big board,” JMS is right there at the top of it. No one has been more consistently impressive this week than he has. He is a smooth lateral mover with a lightning quick first step, but perhaps more impressive is how he was helping his teammates run the drills during practice this week. If you need a center in this year’s draft, JMS is #1.
OG Steve Avila – Avila is built like a tank and a bowling ball had a baby. He is massively wide with a low center of gravity that makes him a pulverizer in the run game. He’s got strong hands that are like a vise grip when he gets ’em on you. He’s a bit of a stiff mover, but overall, I think he cemented his status as a 2nd or 3rd round pick this week.
OG Cody Mauch – There was no way Mauch was going to hold up playing left tackle in the NFL at his size, so the move to left guard was absolutely brilliant. Mauch brings a certain moxie to the position – he’s a good wrestler with his hands. He’s scrappy, and he’s athletic. Of all the guards I watched pull and seal the edge this week, he was by far the best, and most fluid.
WR Jonathan Mingo – I don’t think anyone from this crop of receivers really stood up and seized the moment the way I was hoping they would. But, Mingo was the most consistent. My big takeaway on him: “one step = an immediate two yards of separation.” He broke a lot of ankles this week at the line of scrimmage and from his release. I know Titans fans are going to cringe, but between his build and play style, he certainly looks an awful lot like a guy we used to know who’s playing for the Eagles right now. The receivers were also difficult to evaluate because the quarterback play has sucked so much this week – a lot of Mingo’s evaluation comes from just watching how he wins his route against defensive backs.
TE Payne Durham – All eyes have been on Luke Musgrave, but Durham has been the best tight end down here, and in my opinion, it hasn’t even been close. He had two touchdowns in practice on Thursday that demonstrated his concentration and toughness at the point of the catch. He’s deceptively quick in the open field with the ball in his hands and can high point the ball and snatch it out of the air. He’s being underrated as a run blocker. He blocks with leverage and drive at the edge, and sprang a few running backs open because of it this week.
LB Cam Jones – Jones is currently ranked somewhere in the 200s, but he’s going to make a roster in the NFL and push someone for a starting job. He shows great instincts in diagnosing plays, and he crashes to the play with burst and quickness once he identifies it. The way he sheds blocks from running backs, there may be some potential in the pass rush here too.
EDGE Isaiah Foskey – Foskey came in this week and did what he had to do. He’s not the twitchiest or bendiest edge rusher in the class, but he may be the most polished and NFL ready. He has a powerful drive.
EDGE Keion White – I stop short of calling Foskey the most powerful edge rusher here in Mobile this week because that honor has pretty clearly gone to Keion White out of Georgia Tech. He has nasty straight line power that drives tackles back. I’ve heard some murmurs from fellow writers and scouts down here that White could be working his way into first round consideration.
I don’t think pick #11 for the Titans is here in Mobile this week, but it’s plausible that their 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and/or 7th round picks could be.
MORE SENIOR BOWL 2023 CONTENT
- 2022 Showed Us Why The Senior Bowl Is So Important In Evaluating Offensive Linemen
- Camerun Peoples Is Making The Most Out Of His Senior Bowl Opportunity
- Cody Mauch Switching To Guard Ought To Have Him Moving Up Big Boards
- How Technique Factors Into Senior Bowl Week Practice
- My Super Official Senior Bowl “Got That Dawg In Him” List
- Podcast: A Football Show LIVE from the Hancock Whitney Stadium parking lot
- Podcast: Reviewing Senior Bowl Day 1 on Football and Other F Words
- Podcast: Senior Bowl Mock Draft for the Titans on The Unofficial Titans Podcast
- Podcast: What Matters and What Doesn’t at the Senior Bowl (A Football Show)
- Players I’m Most Excited To Watch At The 2023 Senior Bowl
- Senior Bowl: Dudes To Put On Your Radar
- There’s A Ton Of Promise In This Year’s Senior Bowl Running Back Group
- Tulane RB Tyjae Spears Is A Player To Watch At This Week’s Senior Bowl
- Tyler Steen Put All-Around Skillset On Display At Senior Bowl Day 1
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
Subscribe to the SoBros Network Patreon here – $5/month gets you instant access to an exhaustive content library of articles, podcasts, and videos created exclusively for our subscribers!