Senior Bowl 2012: 5 Players Who Increased Their Draft Stock the Most in Mobile

The following five players are among the prospects who increased their draft stock the most during the 2012 Senior Bowl week in Mobile, Alabama. 

RB/WR Chris Rainey, Florida

There will always be a place in the NFL for players that can create mismatches and that's exactly what Rainey can do at the next level. Few players on the field in Mobile could match his speed and quickness, and he showed off the soft hands that it will take for him to make an impact. In a year in which Darren Sproles broke the NFL record for yards from scrimmage, teams will be looking for players like him. Rainey could be that guy.

S George Iloka, Boise State

The Jimmy Graham's and Rob Gronkowski's of the NFL world are changing how teams look at the safety position. Not only do they have to cover a deep half and come up in run support, but safeties now have to be able to cover tight ends who run like receivers but stand 6'5" or better. Iloka looked like the one prospect in Mobile that could handle that role. He runs well for a guy that's 6'3" and 220 pounds.  

LB Audie Cole, North Carolina State

For the dwindling number of teams that still run the 4-3 defense, Cole's name will be one that they toss around a Sam linebacker. He has size to take on blockers and the speed to run down both tight ends and running backs. While there were plenty of solid showings at the linebacker position in Mobile, no player from that position did more for his draft stock than Cole.

QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

Weeden was the best quarterback in Mobile and I'm not sure it was close. He has a big arm, poise in the pocket and the decision-making you don't usually see from a spread quarterback in these games/practices. His age will always be an issue, but Weeden's performance this week might have earned himself a spot in the top 40 or so picks this April. 

TE LaDarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette

Now that the Gronkowski's and Graham's are revolutionizing the tight end position, teams are going to be looking for the next one. It's a copy-cat league and Green might be the one who benefits from that shift. Green is in the mold of Graham (6'6") and he showed that he run the same kind of route tree with similar athleticism. I'd expect his stock to rise even more following the Scouting Combine.