A look at the players Broncos supporters should be aware of for the 2024 Senior Bowl
Three months remain until the 2024 NFL Draft, but the pre-draft phase has already intensified.
Many talented players will compete in the Senior Bowl this week in Mobile, Alabama, in an attempt to raise their draft stock.
Future stars and important depth players have traditionally been developed through the Senior Bowl, and this year’s game should be no exception.
Thus, as the Mobile draft progresses, these are some players you should be aware of.
QB Michael Penix Jr., of Washington, and QB Bo Nix of Oregon
Bo Nix of Oregon and Michael Penix Jr. of Washington are two quarterbacks who are projected to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in April. The Broncos have been linked to quarterbacks in several of the early mock drafts.
After completing 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns, and just three interceptions in 2023, Nix finished third in the Heisman voting. The five-year starter capped his collegiate career with a five-touchdown performance against Liberty in which he threw just seven incompletions.
Penix, on the other hand, had an incredible performance in the Huskies’ Sugar Bowl victory over Texas, throwing for 430 yards and two touchdowns. In his final season, Penix passed for nearly 5,000 yards, added 36 touchdowns, and 11 picks, placing him second in the Heisman voting. Penix, a transfer from Indiana, is likely to be questioned about his medical background throughout the draught.
This week’s quarterback contestants in Mobile include Michael Pratt of Tulane, Sam Hartman of Notre Dame, and Spencer Rattler of South Carolina.
Laiatu Latu, a senior edge rusher from UCLA, led the country in tackles for loss (21.5) and recorded 13 sacks in 2023. He was selected unanimously as an All-America selection. Latu’s best performance came in a game against Colorado, just up the road from Empower Field at Mile High, where he recorded three sacks and three tackles for loss. Several mock draft experts have linked Denver to Latu Latu, believing the Broncos will bolster their youthful pass-rushing group.
Denver will have to wait if it hopes to get eyes on perhaps the top defensive tackle in the draft, as Texas’ Byron Murphy II is not participating at the Senior Bowl this week as he recovers from an injury. WR Devontez Walker, North Carolina
UNC’s Devontez Walker is projected by NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah to be the 31st overall pick after the Kent State transfer caught 41 passes for 699 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games in 2023. Walker’s best performance came in a double-overtime victory over Duke, where he caught seven passes for 162 yards to help the Tar Heels defeat the Blue Devils. Walker appears to be among the options that could be available in the first couple of rounds of the draft if the Broncos want to add to their wide receiving corps.
Among the pass catchers who accepted an invitation to visit Mobile this week is Luke McCaffrey, the youngest son of former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey. McCaffrey started his collegiate career as a quarterback but ended up catching 71 passes for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns at Rice.
In early mock drafts, the Broncos have frequently matched up with Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold; however, Quinyon Mitchell of Toledo will try to establish his own worth as one of the best cornerbacks available. Just five picks after he said the Broncos would select Arnold, Jeremiah teased Mitchell to the Jaguars at No. 17. Mitchell, a ball-productive player who finished 2022 with five interceptions and twenty pass breakups, will try to apply his skills against Mobile’s elite players.
Another cornerback competing in Mobile is Ennis Rakestraw Jr. of Missouri, who Jeremiah mock-drafted in the first round of the most recent draft.
