Ideal NFL Draft Landing Spots for the 2026 Senior Bowl's Biggest Standouts

There's still one more game to be played in the 2025 season, but for most of the NFL, the focus has already turned to the 2026 campaign. And Step 1 in that regard is the annual pilgrimage to Mobile, Alabama to put some of this season's top prospects through their paces at the Senior Bowl.

The game itself isn't really that important, but the practices leading up to it are. It's a chance for players to show NFL coaches and scouts what they can do close-up. A chance for players from smaller schools a chance to shine against the big boys.

As is the case, there have been more than a few players who have shined in Mobile—all under the watchful eye of Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.

There's still a long way to go before the Raiders go on the clock in April in Pittsburgh. But it's never too early to wonder what the ideal landing spots could be for this year's Senior Bowl stars.

QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

AP Photo/Butch Dill

After throwing for over 4,000 yards and an SEC-high 29 touchdowns as a junior, many viewed LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier as a potential first-round pick. But after an injury marred senior year in which he was benched, Nussmeier headed to Mobile with work to do.

Per Bleacher Report's Daniel Harms, Nussmeier did just that on the practice field.

"Whether making a move in the pocket to find his man along the sideline or getting out of pressure and throwing on the run," he said, "Nussmeier showed he has what it takes to run an offense."

Ideal Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Steelers

Even if Aaron Rodgers decides to return for a second go-round with the Steelers, Pittsburgh needs to look to the future under center—a future that is not named Mason Rudolph. Picking outside the top-20, if the Steelers do add a quarterback, it likely isn't happening until at least Day 2.

Nussmeier also has something of a connection to the Steelers—his father (New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier) was the quarterbacks coach under new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas.

With at least two (and probably three) picks in the third round of April's draft, that could be the sweet spot for the team to add a quarterback who can sit for a year behind Rodgers or another veteran.

Nussmeier is an interesting target in that range—especially if he continues to perform well in pre-draft workouts.

DT Caleb Banks, Florida

AP Photo/Butch Dill

After tallying north of 50 quarterback pressures from 2023 to 2024 in Gainesville, Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks entered the 2025 campaign with quite a bit of Round 1 buzz. But injuries limited the 6'6", 330-pounder to just three games last season, so the big man headed to the Senior Bowl needing to impress to get back in the Day 1 conversation.

Per Ian Cummings of PFSN, Banks did more than just impress—he dominated.

"With his quickness and constant leg action, Banks won with swims and rips after off-setting, and at one point tossed his man to the ground with an explosive throw-by, and he also flashed the ability to bowl through blockers with menacing raw power," Cummings said. "The Senior Bowl is a crucible of talent, and those who possess top-flight tools often show it through comparison and triumph. Banks' talent is ready-made for Day 1 disruption, and the game-wrecker upside is too great for too many teams to pass on."

Ideal Landing Spot: New York Jets

There are no shortage of teams looking to bolster the defensive line, and if Banks continues to shine in workouts he may well not make it out of Round 1. But each and every year there are teams who trade back into Round 1 as the draft's first day winds down, and with four picks in the top-50 no team is better-positioned for some moving and shaking than the Jets.

There also may not be a team in the league more desperate to upgrade the interior of the defensive line, especially after the Jets dealt Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys during the 2025 campaign.

WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame

AP Photo/Butch Dill

Notre Dame's Malachi Fields certainly looks the part of an NFL wide receiver at 6'4" and 218 pounds. But his lone year in South Bend was underwhelming statistically—36 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns.

Fields is one of the bigger names among a talented group of wideouts at the Senior Bowl, and as B/R Scout Dame Parson wrote, there hasn't been a more impressive player at the position in practices.

"He is making a case to be a first-round pick," Parson said. "Fields was already a well-put together prospect built like a traditional X-receiver. He's now combining his outstanding size and agility with elite ball-tracking skills to make plays all over the field."

Ideal Landing Spot: Buffalo Bills

Fields isn't a burner, but in most other regards he's everything a team can ask for in an "X" wide receiver—he's a solid route-runner with excellent contested catch ability who consistently created separation on the practice field in Mobile.

If Parson is correct and Fields really is working his way into Round 1 consideration, there are a pair of teams picking toward the back of the round who desperately need wide receiver help. And while the San Francisco 49ers could be completely remodeling their wideout corps this offseason, they are also in a far better situation relative to the salary cap than the Bills.

Josh Allen needs a go-to wide receiver. And he's likely going to have to come from the draft.

Edge Derrick Moore, Michigan

AP Photo/Butch Dill

Edge-rushers are one of the most coveted positions in any draft—the list of clubs looking to improve their pass rush is usually about 32 teams long.

After logging a career-best 10 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss with the Wolverines in 2025, Michigan edge-rusher Derrick Moore was widely regarded as a mid-Day 2 pick, but as Ryan Fowler wrote for SideLion Report, the power that the 6'3" 254-pounder displayed in Mobile could have him rising up draft boards.

"Where Moore becomes especially intriguing is in his developmental upside as a pass rusher," Fowler said. "Right now, he wins primarily with power -- long-arm rushes, bull rushes, and the ability to collapse the pocket into the quarterback's lap. At the Senior Bowl, that approach has already caused problems for offensive tackles, particularly in one-on-one periods where Moore's leverage and lower-body strength stand out."

Ideal Landing Spot: San Francisco 49ers

Here's some breaking news for you—the San Francisco 49ers need pass-rushers like a fish needs water. In 2025, the Niners had a league-low 20 sacks as a team in the regular season—three fewer than Cleveland Browns edge-rusher Myles Garrett had by himself.

Yes, the 49ers will get veteran Nick Bosa back in 2026, and the team drafted Mykel Williams 11th overall a year ago. But both of those players are coming off torn ACLs as part of the injuries that savaged San Francisco last season, and Bosa will turn 29 in October and has a lengthy injury history.

In the short-term, Moore could be a rotational piece. In the long-term, he could be part of a post-Bosa future in the Bay Area opposite Williams.

OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Frankly, it's not easy for offensive linemen to stand out at the Senior Bowl. At this point in the pre-draft process, many are focused on combine drills that don't necessarily translate well to actually blocking people. It's a reality that former Cincinnati Bengals great Willie Anderson bemoaned on social media this week.

However, Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor stood out on the practice field at the Senior Bowl, according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com:

"Iheanachor looks the part at 6'5" and 325 pounds with good length. The thing that stood out to me, though, was the continued growth I saw from him over the course of the week. He took to the coaching he received here and adjusted, taking a leap on the second day of practice. Keep in mind Iheanachor, who grew up playing soccer and basketball, didn't begin his football career until 2021. He might just be scratching the surface of his potential. I view him as a likely second-round pick with a chance to sneak into the first round."

Ideal Landing Spot: Houston Texans

Stop me if you've heard this before, but the Houston Texans need help on the offensive line. The team made the postseason for the third year in a row in 2025, but they did so with a line that Pro Football Focus ranked 27th in the league. Houston's 2025 starter at right tackle (Trent Brown) is well on the wrong side of 30 and about to hit free agency.

Iheanachor is far from the most NFL-ready tackle in this class, but those guys are going to be gone by the time the Texans pick at No. 28 anyway. Whether it's at that spot or after a slide back into the early stages of Round 2, Iheanachor's size, length and potential makes a lot of sense for Houston.

LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was the 2025 Butkus Award winner after racking up 128 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four interceptions and an FBS-high seven forced fumbles. However, the 6'1", 233-pounder lacks ideal size and athleticism by modern NFL linebacker standards.

Rodriguez continued his penchant for taking the ball away during Senior Bowl practices this week, and in an interview with the NFL Network he said he intends to keep right on doing that once he reaches the pros.

"I think the first thing great defenses do is take the ball away," Rodriguez said. "We [Texas Tech] stop the run, and so it gives us an opportunity to go and attack the football. When you've got 10 other guys running to the ball, you've got chances and opportunities to go and take the ball away and somebody is going to be there to pick it up. What I do a lot is take the ball away. So, I feel good about coming out here and continuing to do that."

Ideal Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings

It's a time of great upheaval in the Twin Cities. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was shockingly fired this week after travelling to Mobile to watch Senior Bowl practices. But whoever replaces him will be facing some potentially tough decisions—especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Eric Wilson played well for the Vikings in 2025, but he's 32 years old and set to hit free agency. The team could be looking to patch a hole opposite Blake Cashman. Off-ball linebacker may not be a premium position, but Rodriguez could be a Day 1 starter available on the draft's second day.

His aggressiveness and penchant for takeaways would no doubt appeal to Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

WR Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll

AP Photo/Butch Dill

The Senior Bowl isn't just an opportunity for prospects from big schools to improve their NFL Draft stock. It's also an opportunity for players from small schools to get on the radar of NFL Scouts.

For Tyren Montgomery of John Carroll (a Division III school in University Heights, Ohio), mission accomplished.

A 5'11", 193-pounder, Montgomery blew up for the Blue Streaks in 2025—119 catches, 1,575 yards and 15 touchdowns. While speaking to reporters, Montgomery said that he has relished the opportunity to compete in Mobile.

"Being the only DIII guy here, I feel like I have a lot to prove," Montgomery said. "And just being a late bloomer in the game of football, I just wanted to show the scouts and show everybody that I belong here. Lot of nerves, lot of adrenaline this week — I'm not gonna lie. But I feel like my football IQ has developed. I still have a lot to work on, no doubt. But I've come a long way. I've put on weight. I've worked on my speed. I always thought I could do it, but now I feel like my football IQ shows it."

Ideal Landing Spot: Los Angeles Rams

To be clear, while Montgomery has impressed in Mobile, he still is what he is—an undersized wideout who played at a Division III school with an enrollment of less than 3,000 students. He's a Day 3 project pick—likely a sixth or seventh-rounder.

Where better for Montgomery to start his professional career than with Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and the Rams?

The Rams are set at wideout with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but there's not much depth behind them and Adams isn't getting any younger. Montgomery would have the opportunity to learn from two of the league's best—and the Rams have had more than a little success with Day 3 wideouts in recent years.

S Bud Clark, TCU

AP Photo/Chris Seward

Last year at TCU, safety Bud Clark logged just 56 total tackles. But throughout his collegiate career, the 6'2", 190-pounder has displayed a nose for the football—he intercepted four passes and has 15 picks over the past four seasons.

Now, Clark is in Mobile attempting to solidify his stock as a potential Day 2 selection, and according to Bleacher Report's NFL scouts in attendance, Clark rebounded from a shaky first day to put together a good week of practice.

"He flew around the field," they said, "showing sticky man-coverage ability during one-on-one drills, and came downhill during team sessions to break up a pass. He also snagged an acrobatic interception that was called back due to a hold, but he made the play all the same. Clark is one of the most instinctual defenders on the Senior Bowl roster. If he continues to build on his latest outing and finds extra confidence, he'll create more fans within the NFL scouting community."

Ideal Landing Spot: Chicago Bears

The dots here aren't especially difficult to connect.

The Bears are coming off a great season, but there are some major offseason questions facing the team in 2026—including the fact that starting safeties Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker are both about to hit free agency and should both command big bucks on the open market.

Clark could offer the Bears an inexpensive replacement who is an experienced starter who has shown the ability to make big plays.

There are worse ways to use a Day 2 pick.