Every year, the Senior Bowl gives prospects the chance to improve their draft stock by impressing NFL decision-makers with a strong week of practice in Mobile.
This can be especially true at quarterback, where we’ve seen players send their stock through the roof with a solid performance.
This year’s crop of Senior Bowl passers brings plenty of intrigue despite a lack of big names, and there are a handful who have the talent to make the most of their all-star trip.
Here are four signal-callers to keep an eye on this week:
Jaren Hall | BYU
One of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the group, Hall has all the tools needed to be a successful dual-threat quarterback at the next level. His ability to make plays outside of the pocket, and use his live arm to push the ball down the field, helped send BYU to a 8-5 record on the season and produce one of it’s best offensive outputs in recent memory.
Hall was consistent in his playmaking ability all year, tossing 31 touchdowns with just six interceptions on 376 attempts. He had a knack for the big play, and his best ability was to buy time outside the pocket and launch the deep ball with defenders in his face. He could thrive in a system similar to Arizona’s that spreads the defense out and allows him to diagnose and find time to hit a playmaker down the field.
It may be challenging for Hall to adjust to a more pro-style offense this week and in the future, so if he can answer that question by showing off more traditional timing and operating under center more, he could show enough developmental tools to go as early as Day 2.
Tyson Bagent | Shepherd
Almost certainly the most unknown quarterback of the group (and perhaps in the entire draft) is Bagent, out of the Division II ranks. He’s one of the most decorated quarterbacks in all of college football, tossing for more than 90 touchdowns over the last two years, and becoming one of nine passers to throw for 50 touchdowns and 5,000 yards in a season.
Bagent’s biggest question mark will be the level of competition he faced, and he’ll have the perfect chance to answer it againsts top competition in Mobile. His arm talent and size on tape check the boxes as NFL-level, and if he can show that he can develop his play to adapt against next-level players, he could find himself being the first division II quarterback drafted since 1999.
Max Duggan | TCU
One of the more accomplished passers among the group, Duggan has shown an ability to lead his team deep into the postseason, as shown this year when he helped carry the Horned Frogs all the way to the national title game against Georgia.
Duggan showed the best of his talents this year as an underrated dual-threat quarterback, playing the best football of his career. Duggan scored 41 total touchdowns on the year, with over 3,600 yards passing, and 420 yards on the ground. He also minimized mistakes with only eight interceptions.
A clear leader of his team with excellent intangibles to go alongside a decent physical skillset, Duggan could impress NFL decision-makers this week to the point where they’re willing to see him as more than just a future backup at the next level.
Malik Cunningham | Louisville
The most athletically gifted of the quarterbacks to show up to the Senior Bowl this year, Cunningham should be excited to show off his unique skillset in Mobile. The all time leading scorer in Louisville history (over Lamar Jackson and Teddy Bridgewater), Cunningham will bring a unique blend of experience, leadership, and physical talent that could be the perfect storm for a draft leap with a good enough performance.
Cunningham started 10 games last season, and put up 20 total touchdowns in limited action. His career has been impressive, with his best season coming the year prior, in which he rushed for 1,000 yards and scored 30 total touchdowns.
He has shown excellent running and athletic ability, combined with above-average pocket awareness and processing. While his arm strength and accuracy is a tad lacking, there’s little reason to think Cunningham can’t pull through the question marks with a good showing, and convince a team to take a chance on him given his potential.
