10 Senior Bowl standouts: Dart takes command of QB3 battle

Keep tabs on these guys throughout the NFL Draft process

Mobile, Ala. — Whether it’s a small school prospect proving himself against the big boys or getting another chance to evaluate a well-known player, the Senior Bowl provides fans with a few names to pay attention to for the NFL Draft. Now that this year’s event is complete, let’s take a look at a handful of standouts who fit the Las Vegas Raiders’ needs.

Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss

To be clear, the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl this year were disappointing as a whole. But Dart was arguably the best one in action and was named as the top QB on the American Team. The Ole Miss product entered the week in a battle with Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel for the QB3 competition and outperformed both in Mobile.

Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

Shough wasn’t a big name heading into the event but managed to be named as the top quarterback on the National Team. He has a live arm and great size at nearly 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and 9.75-inch hands to check a lot of boxes from a physical tools standpoint. Don’t be surprised if he continues to generate some draft steam after the NFL Combine.

Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon

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Another player who earned the distinction of being the best player at his position on his team, Bassa stood out in several facets last week. He has the movement skills to be effective in coverage and decent instincts as a run defender to develop into a complete player. Bassa established himself as one of the top linebackers in this year’s draft class and would be a great Day 2 target for Las Vegas.

Demetrius Knight, LB, South Carolina

Unlike the Oregon product, Knight is more of a downhill run defender than someone who should be trusted in coverage. But he made several plays during the full team periods against the run that were eye-catching. He’d be a good candidate to replace Robert Spillane if Spillane leaves in free agency.

Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

Thomas’ size (6-foot-1.5, 32.5-inch arms and over 10-inch hands) made him hard to miss in Mobile. But he also had a handful of quality reps during the one-on-ones to generate some buzz, especially since that drill favors wide receivers. The Florida State product fits Pete Carroll’s type at cornerback and is worth keeping tabs on after his performance.

Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

Another long cornerback (nearly 6-foot-2.5 with 33.25-inch arms), Porter’s size alone should draw interest from the Raiders. He also showed off some impressive speed by hitting nearly 22 mph as a gunner in punt coverage to boost his stock even more. Al Davis would certainly be interested in the former Cyclone.

Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State

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Gordon lost some steam this fall after a disappointing season from Oklahoma State as a whole. However, he looked much more explosive at the Senior Bowl while weighing in at 233 pounds. Gordon also ran a handful of quality routes during the one-on-ones to suggest he could be a complete back at the next level to help recoup some draft stock.

Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

Meanwhile, Etienne impressed as a receiver. He made one of the most impressive catches during the one-on-one periods, winning on a seam route while showing off an impressive verticle to climb the latter and high point the ball. Especially if Ameer Abdullah isn’t retained, the former Bulldog could take over as the third down back in Las Vegas.

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

A good case could be made that Zabel was the biggest winner in Mobile regardless of position, seeing as the NFL executives in attendance named him the top overall practice player. He stonewalled defensive linemen in the one-on-one pass-rush drills and generated plenty of push in the running game. Even better, the North Dakota State product did it while playing several different positions, including guard, which the Raiders could be in the market for during the draft.

Jackson Slater, OL, Sacramento State

Another FCS offensive lineman who stood out at the Senior Bowl, Slater gained some notoriety by winning in the one-on-ones against potential first-round pick Walter Nolen. The former Hornet may lack some length and might be a project, but he’s an intriguing prospect who could develop into a quality starter down the road.