SENIOR BOWL GAMEDAY: 3 Players to Keep an Eye On
In the third and final practice of the 2021 Senior Bowl, we saw both the American and National teams put on a competitive display. The day began with the National Team practice, led by the Miami Dolphins coaching staff, followed by the Panthers-coached American team wrapping up the day. There were many notable standouts for both squads, but a few players managed to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.
Dez Fitzpatrick, Louisville, WR
National had some of the better receiving talent in camp, with names like Eskridge, Collins, and Darby showing up in 1 v 1 drills. Louisville Receiver Dez Fitzpatrick stood out amongst the standouts as an elite red-zone target. At 6-2, 215 lbs, Fitz showed scouts why he was so productive in college. The former Cardinal’s first step became a continuous problem for the National DBs, as he was able to get immediate separation. Although he is a big guy, Fitzpatrick’s freakishly quick, and his ability to get the defenders’ hands off of him shows his attention to detail as a receiver.
On one notable play against Oregon’s Thomas Graham Jr, Fitzpatrick quickly got out of a press situation on a fade ball and easily climbed the ladder to score over Graham.
Pro Comparison: Amari Cooper
NFL Team Fit: New York Giants need a complementary weapon to the production of Darius Slayton and to help give Daniel Jones a secondary target.
2. Keith Taylor, Washington DB
The National Team DB that matched up against Fitzpatrick most consistently was Keith Taylor. At 6-3, 200 lbs, Taylor is a very big NFL corner. His technique is very unpolished, but his size and speed allows him to make up for any mistakes and make plays on the ball.
In college, Taylor never had an interception, but much like Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, most of his targets are breakups. His ball skills leave much to be desired, but he is not afraid to look back for the ball.
On the line of scrimmage, he is very aggressive at the point of contact but doesn’t lunge. He is patient, but his hips can be improved to help him against smaller, quicker guys. Saturday will show exactly how much of a big play corner Keith Taylor can be when he matches up against American team receivers like Shi Smith and Kadarius Toney.
Pro Comparison: AJ Terrell
NFL Team Fit: Kansas City Chiefs’ defense is trending up with every class. If Taylor gets paired with elite veterans like Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill, Arrowhead could become the next “No Fly Zone” for years to come.
3. Jacoby Stevens , LSU, DB
Jacoby Stevens stood out from the first few plays of practice and showed flashes of his career at LSU. Jacoby Stevens, much like Jamal Adams, plays very well in the box and in the flats. His instincts are off the charts and he is able to command a defense. He is not excellent in coverage, but his zone instincts make up for his lack of man-to-man ability.
On a short pass from Julian Newman, Stevens was able to jump up and intercept the ball even though he was within 5 yards of Newman. This type of athleticism is customary of LSU DB’s and Stevens could very well fit as a day 1 starter for any NFL team.
Pro Comparison: Jamal Adams
NFL Team Fit: Atlanta Falcons need to continue building their team. The inconsistency of their defensive backs leaves room for another versatile box defender that can cover slots and cover flats.
Writer
-By: LeMarkus Bailey