With all the general managers, coaches and scouts in attendance for the Senior Bowl, there is a lot of chatter going around. Here are some of the highlights from around the league on Day 2 of the 2024 Senior Bowl week.
A year ago, the New York Giants won a playoff game and made it a priority to bring back quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. As the wheels came off in the 2023 season, the Giants had their top scouts travel the country to scout the top quarterback prospects. As of mid-November, the Giants were on track for a top-two pick, but some wins down the stretch led them to having the sixth-overall selection of the 2024 NFL Draft. Given that the franchises with the first three choices in the 2024 NFL Draft are likely to take quarterbacks, the Giants could be forced to stick with Jones. However, being at No. 6 overall leaves the Giants in excellent position to land Jones a true No. 1 receiver. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. will probably be off the board, but there should be other good options to consider in LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze.
Sources from around the NFL told WalterFootball.com that a receiver who has gone under the radar but some teams really like is Alabama’s Jermaine Burton. Sources from multiple teams rave about Burton’s speed and separation skills. However, Burton never produced up to his talent level at either Georgia or Alabama. League sources say the reason for Burton not producing up to his potential was due to very bad character issues. Those led to him being in the dog house with both coaching staffs, and Burton’s character problems played a part in him not executing on the field, including frequent missed assignments. Burton’s character is a huge problem for a number of NFL teams, so it would not be surprising if some drop him off their draft boards. Burton is going to have to ace his pre-draft interviews and visits to keep stricter teams from ignoring him in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Still, sources with multiple teams really like Burton as a player. Some said they feel he would be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft if it weren’t for the character issues. A few source even said they thought Burton might go in Round 1 anyway. Others, meanwhile, have him as a second-day player but said they really like his tape. Burton is a wild card for the early rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, but the character issues are going to be a big problem for him to address in pre-draft interviews.
Yesterday in the Hot Press, we discussed how the Jets are targeting an offensive tackle in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft alongside potentially adding both a veteran tackle and a wide receiver through free agency. Those aren’t the only positions the Jets will look to address. Sources said New York will also look to add quarterback talent. Aaron Rodgers will turn 41 next season and is coming off a serious Achilles injury that cost him the 2023 season. With the Jets’ regime on the hot seat, quarterback is not in play for the franchise in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, the Jets will look hard at veteran backups in free agency and quarterback prospects who could present nice mid-round values.
The Jets don’t have a second-round pick due to the Rodgers trade, so they will have to consider possible signal-caller options after Day 1 like Tennessee’s Joe Milton or South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler. Sources say both Milton and Rattler are potential scheme fits for the Jets. Milton and Rattler will be watched closely this week during the Senior Bowl practices.
LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. will be an interesting player to follow over the draft process. He is a bit of a love/hate prospect, per team sources. Some said they feel he has bust potential because he is tall and fast, but doesn’t run great routes and drops passes. Other scouts are very high on Thomas’ ability.
“I’ve been to see Thomas, Malik [Nabers], Keon [Coleman], Rome [Odunze], Adonai [Mitchell] and [Xavier] Worthy,” said an AFC area scout. “And Thomas is the most physically talented in the group.”
Thus, Thomas could be a prospect who goes high in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft or slides much lower.
Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton is one player who really needs a strong week of practice in Mobile. Sources from multiple teams have raved about Guyton’s skill set, as he is very big, smooth and somewhat athletic. However, Guyton is also said to be raw and needing development. Teams also have concerns with a lack of consistency on the field and his make-up for the professionals. Hence, Guyton needs to practice and interview well during Senior Bowl week.
One NFC area scout told WalterFootball.com:
Character stuff keeps him from being a lock 1st round guy …. More of a trust issue there and him having to convince people moving forward that it’s a non-issue. His ability has never been questioned; other than he’s maddeningly inconsistent and picks his spots too often when to turn it on. Can’t do that on the next level, but he’s really talented kid.”
“He’s going high unless he has an injury,” said an AFC area scout. “First-round talent, 15-25 potential. But really immature. He’s more talented than Anton [Harrison].”
Harrison was a teammate of Guyton at Oklahoma, and Harrison was a first-round pick by the Jaguars last April in the 2023 NFL Draft. Given the depth of the 2024 NFL Draft’s tackle class, Guyton has to perform well in Senior Bowl practice this week and interview well during the leadup to the draft.
