10 players who boosted their draft stock at 2022 Senior Bowl

With the Super Bowl just days away, only the start of the new league year separates the Washington Commanders from the 2022 NFL Draft.

Slated with the No. 11 overall pick, Washington can go myriad different directions with the selection.

If they feel a quarterback is worthy of being taken that high, we wouldn’t stand in the way. If they feel like they can get a QB in the second round and pivot to a Devin Lloyd or Nakobe Dean with the 11th pick, then go for it.

Either way, you know draft season has arrived with the Senior Bow in full-swing down in Mobile, Alabama this past week.

Should the Commanders look to Senior Bowl as a draft measuring stick for certain prospects, these 10 players outshined their peers. Of course, more than 10 players showed out. It’s just impossible to include every top performer at an event that featured nearly 200 players.

10 players who boosted their draft stock at 2022 Senior Bowl

Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Heading into Mobile, everyone and their mother (well, maybe not yet) was clued-in on Willis’ athletic traits. Between his effortless arm strength and elite dual-threat ability, no QB in the 2022 class has more upside than the Liberty product.

Entering the Senior Bowl, though, Willis had to show improvement in reading the field, accuracy and throwing with anticipation. Oftentimes at Liberty, he relied on his cannon for a right arm to complete passes.

Much to the delight of quarterback-needy NFL teams, Willis checked those boxes with room to spare. He clearly reaped the benefits of playing with an improved supporting cast and likely cemented himself as a first-round pick.

Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida State

As a projected late first-round pick coming into Mobile, Johnson’s dominant outing all week propelled him into the top 12-20 conversation. At 6-foot-4 and 259 pounds with an 84-inch wingspan, offensive lineman were no match for the Florida State standouts’ lethal blend of length and power.

It’s not a stretch to say Johnson was the best player at the Senior Bowl. How dominant was over the first two practices? He tapped out of Thursday because he had nothing more to prove. Talk about making a statement.

Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida

It’s usually a good thing when nearly every analyst and draft scout in the industry agrees that one player was the best player at his position. That is precisely the case with Florida running back Dameon Pierce, who impressed both as a pass-catcher and in pass protection drills, and showed great contact balance.

Pierce never topped 600 rushing yards in Gainesville, but that can be attributed to him averaging less than 100 touches over his four seasons. How that happened is a question for the ages, but he looked the part of an every-down back.

That rep alone will have NFL teams drooling.