Three of the most important days of scouting leading up to the draft are now complete. The scouting staffs from the league's 32 teams now head home with notebooks full of opinions on the more than 100 players who took part in the Senior Bowl. While some will watch the game, the final analysis from three days of practice is what teams most heavily weigh when deciding a player's final draft grade. Here's a rundown of 14 players who enter the game with their stock rising and a half-dozen prospects headed in the other direction.
Stock Up
Desmond Trufant/CB/Washington: Few players elevated their draft stock as much as Trufant at the Senior Bowl. He was feisty from the first day of practice, battling opponents throughout routes and consistently knocking away passes. Trufant kept the momentum going throughout the week and scouts left Mobile believing he is now a first-round lock.
Eric Fisher/T/Central Michigan: In a word, wow. Fisher defeated just about everyone he faced at the Senior Bowl. From weigh-ins, when he stepped on the stage and showed an NFL body, through three days of practice, where he looked NFL ready, Fisher has scouts believing he'll quickly take hold at the left tackle position.
Lane Johnson/T/Oklahoma: If Eric Fisher was the top offensive tackle during Senior Bowl practice then Johnson was a close second. The former tight end put his athleticism on display during pass protection drills and shut down the speed rushers who tried to run around him. Johnson needs to get stronger and add some weight to his frame but there's a lot to like about his game.
Larry Warford/G/Kentucky: The third blocker who watched his draft stock take off, Warford was not as athletic compared to Fisher or Johnson yet was twice as dominant. He's your prototypical mauler who easily controlled defenders during drills. Once Warford got his hands on opponents it was game over.
Leon McFadden/CB/San Diego State: It was a good week for West coast cornerbacks as McFadden also made a positive impression during three days of practice. Technically, he's very sound and offers the speed and quickness to play at the next level. McFadden is not the tallest corner, measuring under 5-10 during weigh-ins, yet played tough football all week and usually beat out opponents.
Stepfan Taylor/RB/Stanford: Taylor was among the standouts at the Senior Bowl as he displayed elements in his game that surprised scouts. His burst and explosion through the running lanes were outstanding as Taylor showed a gear no one thought he had. This complimented the interior ball-carrying strength, running vision, pass-catching hands and blocking Taylor showed every day at practice.
Jonathan Franklin/RB/UCLA: Franklin was overshadowed by the play of Taylor yet turned in an impressive three days of practice. He showed a variety of skills as a ball carrier on the inside or around the edge and was a solid pass catcher out of the backfield.
Marquise Goodwin/WR/Texas: Goodwin has the one skill lacking from most of the 2013 receiver class; speed, and he displayed it every day at practice. He beat opponents off the line and displayed a terrific burst downfield with the ability to separate from defenders. Above all, Goodwin caught the ball well all three days.
Markus Wheaton/WR/Oregon State: Wheaton did not display the flat-out speed when compared to Goodwin, but he was fast enough to beat defenders in a foot race and was a dynamic all-around receiver. He showed a complete game at the position running terrific routes, battling defenders and coming away with tough receptions. Scouts now believe Wheaton has the potential to line up as a No. 2 receiver in the NFL.
Quinton Patton/WR/Louisiana Tech: Patton was one of the better route runners and more consistent wideouts through all three days of Senior Bowl practice. His eye/hand coordination and focus were exemplary as the sturdy wideout consistently came away with the reception. Scouts now feel he has a chance to develop into a No. 2 receiver in the NFL.
Brandon Williams/DT/Missouri Southern: Williams was a bit slow out of the gate but was turning heads by Wednesday. He displayed great power on the inside which nicely complimented his tremendous quickness. On the final day of practice he was impossible to stop. NFL coaches no longer question Williams' ability to hold down the nose tackle position at the next level.
Jonathan Cyprien/S/Florida International: Cyprien stood out as the best safety in attendance at the Senior Bowl and displayed a complete game. The ability to swiftly get outside the numbers and make plays in coverage was impressive as was his run-stuffing ability.
Montori Hughes/DT/Tennessee-Martin: Hughes stood on the sidelines Monday then made up for lost time the following two practices. The small-school product played with the big-time prospects and proved he belonged. Hughes was unstoppable Wednesday and constantly got penetration behind the line of scrimmage. Scouts feel he'll be a terrific addition on the inside of a four-man line.
John Jenkins/DT/Georgia: If only Jenkins played every down they way he practiced in Mobile. The big tackle tipped the scales near 360 pounds but looked quick and fluid moving about the field for three days. Jenkins presented himself as a lot more than just a space eater. Rather, he's an athlete who can rush the passer or make plays outside the box in pursuit. The objective for NFL teams is to get him to play to his level of ability for 60 minutes.
Stock Down
Braxston Cave/C/Notre Dame: Cave was consistently overrun by opponents throughout the week and struggled to hold the point. There were few physical traits about his game which really stood out to scouts.
Denard Robinson/WR/Michigan: Robinson had his moments catching the ball but struggled running routes or fielding punts. Scouts were expecting more from Robinson, who looked as though he'd not been training at the receiver position since his college career had ended.
Chase Thomas/LB/Stanford: Thomas was considered by some as one of the better 3-4 outside linebacker prospects before the week began yet was exploited almost every day at practice. He struggled in pass coverage showing an inability to run with slower tight ends and Thomas rarely made plays on the ball in scrimmage.
Bacarri Rambo/S/Georgia: Rambo exceeded expectations as a senior but was exposed all week during Senior Bowl practice. He looked slow and non-reactive in drills for three days and was constantly late arriving on the scene.
Will Davis/CB/Utah State: Entering the week most thought Davis had top 45 potential but he looked more like a last-day pick during practice. Davis is a fine athlete and displays great quickness in his game but showed poor instincts and marginal ball skills during drills and scrimmage.
Kyle Long/OL/Oregon: Long struggled in practice on Monday then sat out the rest of the week claiming to be ill. Scouts felt the offensive lineman had top 45 potential entering the Senior Bowl but the inability to perform could push him out of the draft's second day.
Notes: The much-anticipated quarterback battle many expected to witness during Senior Bowl practice never panned out. While all the signal callers had their moments none wowed scouts during practice or significantly elevated their draft stock. Mike Glennon of North Carolina State looked tremendous in drills yet folded under pressure during scrimmage, something he did on game day in college. Ryan Nassib of Syracuse had his moments but struggled with his timing and accuracy throwing to new receivers. Tyler Wilson of Arkansas was very effective in the short and intermediate field but proved he does not have the arm strength to play in a vertical offense. Florida State's EJ Manuel possesses an incredible amount of physical talent and made some beautiful throws but needs to be reworked from the ground up and is just too inconsistent. Landry Jones of Oklahoma has the throwing skills to play at the next level but just as in college, he made a lot of mental errors throughout the week.
