Senior Bowl 2012: Best and Worst 2012 NFL Draft Prospects in Mobile

The list of players who impressed at the 2012 Senior Bowl has some length. The list of those who disappointed does as well.

Practices are wrapped, and the majority of the NFL personnel down in Mobile, Alabama has already left. Although there is still the game to play on Saturday, the majority of the scouts and coaches on hand were only there to watch the practices.

Not every kid is a practice player—just look at our good friend Tim Tebow—but it does give talent evaluators an opportunity to see how prospects stack up against one another, against similar competition.

Here are some of the best and worst of Senior Bowl week down in Mobile.

Best

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The former Florida Gator had a lot to prove this week to scouts and coaches after playing his senior year against inferior competition.

He not only rose to the occasion, but he reminded everyone why he is an unmistakable first-round pick.

Jenkins was far and away the best corner on the field this week and showed he hasn't lost a step or his edge in the year since being thrown out of the Florida program.

He'll have some maturity issues and off-field work to do during the interview process of the combine, but physically, he showed he's a first-round pick all the way.

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

Any debate about the No. 3 quarterback in this draft is now over.

The Oklahoma State gunslinger was easily the best signal-caller this week and proved his gaudy statistics weren't just a byproduct of his system, conference and teammate (Justin Blackmon).

Weeden is unlikely to be the third quarterback off the board because of limited upside. He'll be able to come in and give a run as a starting QB, but he''ll be a 29-year-old rookie.

For comparison's sake, he'll be older than Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan (just to name a few).

But he did put himself squarely into the early portion of the second round—like Andy Dalton last year—and could be a starter as a rookie.

Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The BCS Championship Game MVP was already being talked about in the Top 10 range, but he backed it up this week with another solid and impressive performance.

Upshaw is undersized at 6'1 3/4" and 273 pounds, but he gets off the ball extremely fast and uses his leverage to generate strength like no other in this draft class.

He's scheme-diverse as well and is on the radar for both 3-4 and 4-3 teams looking for a pass-rusher.

With all players considered, he is the top prospect playing in this game on Saturday.

Worst

Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

Unfortunately, winning at the collegiate level won't be enough by itself to earn Kellen Moore a bump in draft stock.

He's smart and certainly anticipates well, but even his high football IQ can't help him put the ball in certain places on time.

Moore looked completely underwhelming all week—including physically, as his body type reminds most of a kid coming out high school, not college—and his lack of arm strength is a real problem.

It wouldn't be shocking to see him land a third-QB spot because of his understanding of the game, but it is highly unlikely he ever becomes anything more.

Dwight Jones, WR, UNC

Not for nothing, but did Dwight Jones even realize where he was this week?

The Tar Heel receiver was, as some put it, "content going through the motions."

At 6'3", 228 pounds, Jones has the size, length and even the speed to get behind defenses and make plays.

However, he struggles getting off the line, doesn't work to get open, isn't fluid in and out of his breaks...plain and simple, the kid can't separate.

If Jones isn't going to work to separate on a field filled with the best seniors in the country, it is hard to imagine he'll make more of an impact in the NFL.

He not only wasted a big opportunity, but he hurt himself in the process.