As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., once again served as a proving ground for prospects trying to separate themselves.
For NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis, the week is less about flashiness and more about projection. Scouts are looking for how quickly players adapt and whether their talents translate to Sundays.
The Senior Bowl didn’t just spotlight individual standouts. It helped define the shape of this draft class. It’s strong in the trenches, deep with athletes who can move around on defense and filled with prospects who appear capable of contributing early. For Baltimore, that could prove significant.
Davis remains especially focused on players who have the potential to become high-impact NFL edge rushers. One of the most intriguing evaluations centered around Derrick Moore, the Baltimore native who attended Saint Frances Academy and Michigan. He had 30 tackles and 10.5 sacks for the Wolverines in 2025.
“Numbers aren’t the be-all, end-all, but I always look for them to see what the production is,” Davis said on Glenn Clark Radio Feb. 11. “… Derrick Moore had a great Senior Bowl week. He had a really good last season at Michigan. I’m not sure that he’s going to be top of the first round, but he’s a really good player. I think he’s done nothing but increase the momentum for himself as he moves forward — had a really good week in Mobile.”
Davis also highlighted Western Michigan’s Nadame Tucker, who had a monster season rushing the passer (14.5 sacks), showing he could win with leverage and effort despite being undersized.
“Now, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens with him because he’s not quite 6-2,” Davis said of Tucker. “… But this kid got home a lot last year rushing the passer. Now, here’s the kicker. The year before, he was at the University of Houston — played in one game. Got to do homework. Why did he only play in one game at Houston?”
Davis also reflected on how some players’ 2025 production dipped compared to 2024. Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker (11.0 sacks in 2024, 5.0 sacks in 2025) was one player who left him searching for answers, but he was impressed by Parker in Mobile.
“T.J. Parker has that look. He looks like a heck of a player,” Davis said. “I think he had a good Senior Bowl week during the time that he was there.”
Teams still build from the inside out. Offensive and defensive linemen consistently drew attention during one-on-one periods, with several prospects boosting their stock by showing strength and technique. For the Ravens, an emphasis on the trenches feels especially relevant.
If there was one clear takeaway from Mobile, it was the depth along both lines of scrimmage. Edge rushers who demonstrated flexibility and strong power stood out in pass-rush drills, while interior defensive linemen revealed a sense of disruptive quickness against the run.
Another major theme emerging from the Senior Bowl was defensive versatility and how these players went about elevating their draft stock. Two prospects who stood out in that regard were NC State linebacker Cian Slone and Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Both project as versatile pieces for an NFL team because these players can do a little bit of everything on defense. They can rush the quarterback, stop the run and line up in different spots. In today’s NFL, players who can adapt to multiple roles are very valuable.
Slone consistently popped on film for Davis because of his instincts and ability to find the football, whether rushing the passer or dropping into coverage.
“Just one of those kids that just kept popping up for me. I said, ‘Damn, I like this kid,'” Davis said.
Dennis-Sutton earned praise for his toughness and ability to set the edge against the run. Davis urged scouts not to allow Penn State’s team disappointment cloud individual analysis.
“Good, hard, tough, physical kid, sets an edge well. Knows how to play,” Davis said. “We’ve got to be real careful that we don’t just get these kids swallowed up because Penn State had such a disappointing season. … We go, ‘Ah man, that was miserable for them,’ and then maybe I’m downgrading the kid all the way through and that might not be the fairest thing, because he’s another one who had a nice week at the Senior Bowl.”
For more from Davis, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: U-M Photography