The Senior Bowl, college football’s premier all-star showcase, is underway in Mobile, Alabama this week. While the week of practices and Saturday’s game feature over 100 NFL draft prospects, the spotlight shines brightest on the quarterbacks. In a year without a consensus top quarterback prospect after Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, the Senior Bowl is a prime opportunity for signal-callers to boost their draft stock.
Jaxson Dart Aims to Solidify QB3 Status
The quarterback generating the most buzz heading into Senior Bowl week is Jaxson Dart. The Ole Miss product put up gaudy numbers in Lane Kiffin’s offense, displaying a strong arm, good mobility, and a gunslinger mentality. However, scouts want to see Dart execute NFL-style concepts and progressions after playing in a highly-schemed college system.
I’m interested to see [Dart] outside of that scheme with Kiffin because everything’s so manufactured with where he’s supposed to go. I think the traits are good and there’s always one guy that surges up after the all-star circuit.
Anonymous AFC Director of College Scouting
With prototypical size at 6’2″ and 225 pounds, Dart has the physical tools that NFL teams covet. If he can demonstrate refined field vision and decision-making in Mobile, Dart could entrench himself as the 2025 draft’s QB3 and solidify a spot in the top-50 picks. A strong week of practices capped by an impressive game performance might even vault Dart into the backend of Round 1.
Late-Round QB Sleepers to Watch
While Dart steals the headlines, there are several intriguing mid-to-late round quarterback prospects worth monitoring:
- Dillon Gabriel, Oregon – Undersized but ultra-productive with 63 starts and dynamic dual-threat ability.
- Mike Wright, Vanderbilt – Incredible athlete with tantalizing tools that need refinement.
- Davis Brin, Tulsa – Four-year starter with good size and a live arm.
These quarterbacks may lack the hype of their early-round counterparts, but a strong week in Mobile could put them on the radar as potential Day 3 developmental prospects. In a league always starved for competent quarterback play, the Senior Bowl offers a stage for unheralded passers to make a name for themselves in front of NFL decision-makers.
Senior Bowl Provides Valuable Data Points
While fans focus on 40-times and vertical jumps, NFL scouts value the type of data that the Senior Bowl provides:
- How quickly do players process information and adapt to unfamiliar schemes?
- Who thrives in live competition against other top prospects?
- Which players display leadership and intangibles during the week of practices?
The answers to these questions can cause prospects to rise or fall on draft boards. For quarterbacks especially, Senior Bowl week is a job interview in pads. Every rep, interaction, and interview is a chance to impress NFL brass. With millions of dollars at stake, delivering a strong Senior Bowl performance has never been more important.
Conclusion
While we won’t know which team lands the next franchise quarterback for a few more months, Senior Bowl week will go a long way towards solidifying this year’s pecking order behind Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. From projected top-50 pick Jaxson Dart to late-round sleepers like Dillon Gabriel, every throw, check, and audible will be heavily scrutinized. When the dust settles, the 2025 draft’s quarterback landscape will become much clearer. The search for the next superstar signal-caller starts in Mobile.
