• Which quarterback will raise his stock?: LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia, North Dakota State’s Cole Payton, Illinois’ Luke Altmyer, Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson and Arkansas’ Taylen Green all have a chance to impress scouts and earn a better draft grade during the Senior Bowl.
• Romello Height and T.J. Parker top the list of defensive linemen in attendance: Both players have a shot to earn a solid first-round grade with a great showing this week.
• 2026 NFL Draft season is here: Try the best-in-class PFF Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2026’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team.

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The Senior Bowl is always chock-full of storylines. Players trying to raise their draft stock, position switches and battles among the nation’s best players are sure to steal the headlines.

Here are five important storylines to watch during this week’s Senior Bowl.

Which quarterbacks can broaden the depth of this class?

Quarterback appears to be one of the thinnest position groups in this class as far as top-end talent is concerned. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is likely to be selected first overall. Alabama‘s Ty Simpson and Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, who is fighting for another year of eligibility, stand out. None of those players is headed to the Senior Bowl, though, so the group headed to Mobile will be aiming to improve their draft stock.

The player with the most pro potential could be LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, who battled through tough circumstances to post a 76.4 passing grade this season. Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia hopes to prove his prodigious college production can translate to the NFL. The underdog of the group is North Dakota State’s Cole Payton, the highest-graded quarterback in the FCS this season. Those three, along with Illinois’ Luke Altmyer, Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson and Arkansas’ Taylen Green, hope they can prove themselves worthy of a potential day two selection.

A stacked defensive line group with the potential to stand out

Defensive line is arguably the most talented position group in his draft class and at the Senior Bowl. Despite losing talented participants like Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey, Mobile will still be home to plenty of talented defensive linemen for scouts to examine.

Bailey’s Texas Tech teammate Romello Height will be in the spotlight after posting an elite 92.6 pass-rush grade in 2025. Clemson edge defender T.J. Parker will be aiming to prove he is worthy of a first-round selection. Interior pass-rushers such as Florida’s Caleb Banks and Penn State’s Zane Durant have a chance to raise their stock as well. All eyes will be on the trenches in Mobile.

Will the offensive linemen be able to keep up?

The offensive linemen heading to the Senior Bowl will be looking to keep up with the aforementioned talented defensive line group. Iowa tackle Gennings Dunker has graded very highly over the past two seasons but could kick inside to guard. Texas A&M tackle Trey Zuhn III led the nation with a 96.8 pass-blocking grade in 2025 and will get to display his prowess in one-on-one drills.

Florida center Jake Slaughter has been one of the best linemen in the nation for three seasons and will be looking to prove he can hang with the more powerful rushers in this class. Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge is a scouting favorite with a nasty attitude. We should see some fun battles in the trenches with victories on both sides.

Which running backs can separate from the pack?

Jeremiyah Love has a firm hold of the RB1 title in this year’s class, but rankings of the rest of the running backs could vary widely across different outlets. Two of Penn State’s four all-time leading rushers, Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, offer plenty of talent via vastly different skillsets.

Arkansas star Mike Washington Jr. brings excellent physical tools after tallying 30 explosive runs during the 2025 season. Indiana’s Kaelon Black is fresh off of multiple solid playoff performances, which in part earned him an 85.5 rushing grade this season. These players, among several others, have a chance to separate from a running back class with a wide range of players.

Group of Five stars look to prove themselves

Part of the fun of Senior Bowl week is discovering talented players who didn’t garner much national spotlight. The highest drafted example this season could be San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, whose 92.4 coverage grade ranked second among qualified FBS cornerbacks in 2025.

Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst could be of interest to teams seeking a vertical threat. He used his 6-foot-3 frame to record an 82.1 receiving grade and nearly 1,000 yards in 2025. Western Michigan edge defender Nadame Tucker could be fun to watch in one-on-one pass rush drills after leading the nation with a 28.4% pass rush win rate this past season.