Pro Football Network projects NFL draft destinations for five Tigers following Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is now complete, and several former Auburn players will learn just how much participating in the event helps its draft stock.
Four players from the 2023 roster, as well as former quarterback Bo Nix, played in the Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile last Saturday. There, they caught the attention of several NFL franchises.
Tyler Schickert of w/The First Pick says that two players caught his attention during Senior Bowl practices, defensive backs Jaylin Simpson and Nehemiah Pritchett.
A pair of Auburn defensive backs looked good during the American Team practice on Tuesday. Jaylin Simpson looked decent all around throughout the various drills the secondary players were subjected to and Nehemiah Pritchett made a fantastic pass break-up in one-on-one drills against the wide receivers.
Following the Senior Bowl, we went over to Pro Football Network to learn more about the draft stock of each Auburn player. There, we discovered that five former Tigers have the chance to hear their name called during the NFL draft that begins on April 25 in Detroit, Michigan.
Here is where Pro Football Network projects five former Tigers to end up in the next step of their football careers.
Bo Nix
According to the recent mock draft simulation, the Arizona Cardinals are projected to take Nix with its first-round selection at pick No. 27. Ian Valentino says that the extra season at Oregon could help his development in the NFL.
“The next step in development for Nix is mastering his pre-snap identification of where to go and anticipating leverage more effectively. Nix sees the field well but is more of a read-and-react player as opposed to knowing what to do as soon as his key read shows their intention. With the benefit of another full season and the all-star circuit, I expect Nix to push for a top-10 pick in April.”
The Cardinals are thin at quarterback. Kyler Murray continues to hold the QB1 role in Glendale, with Clayton Tune serving as backup.
D.J. James
Damian Parson of The Draft Network believes that James could play multiple positions in the NFL due to his feisty mentality and high football IQ, which could fit in well with the San Francisco 49ers secondary. Pro Football Network projects James to be a second-round pick at No. 64 overall.
The Niners have solid corners such as Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, which are great players for James to learn under.
Jaylin Simpson
The next possibility for a Tiger to be drafted is expected to be in round four. Jaylin Simpson has been linked to the Denver Broncos in the latest mock draft simulation at No. 121 overall. Damian Parson of The Draft Network says that Simpson has great coverage instincts.
Jaylin Simpson has legitimate free safety range to cover sideline to sideline. As a cornerback converted to safety, the athleticism from Simpson shows with his range in coverage. He has a good burst and acceleration to drive downhill on underneath/shallow routes. He has good safety instincts with field vision to read and react to plays quickly. He has a good feel for what’s happening around him with the route concepts and spacing. Simpson baits quarterbacks into throwing turnover-worthy passes. His ball production is a plus.
Nehemiah Pritchett
Labeled as a “disruptive corner that is a pain in short areas of the field” by Sports Illustrated’s “The Draft Bible,” Nehemiah Pritchett is projected to be a fifth-round pick. In the latest mock draft, the Chicago Bears are expected to take Pritchett with the No. 166 overall selection.
The Draft Bible says that Pritchett can play well in underneath routes, but struggles at the catch point.
Lengthy but stringy physique. Tons of press alignments both to the field and boundary. An easy mover that can play tight man coverage. Makes plays on the ball when covering underneath routes. Plays the pocket timely, interrupting the receiver’s hands and forcing tipped interceptions. Will lose to ball winners. Potentially struggling at the catch point. Overall lack of functional strength shows up in the run game as well. Too easily blocked by wideouts, even finished at times. May lack awareness and or overall FBI. Pritchett is a pesky corner that aligns in tight spacings, daring wideouts to win deep. He presented a mix of vertical and underneath coverage ability that staunched many of the SEC’s receivers. His length and agility will make him a considerable prospect as we approach the draft.
Marcus Harris
The final Tiger that is expected to be drafted is Marcus Harris. Harris led the team in sacks last season and could be a great fit for the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round at No. 248 overall.
The Draft Network says that Harris’ speed could help his ability to break through double-team scenarios.
Harris is an undersized defensive lineman who could be categorized as playing out of position. While he has a well-built and dense frame, when handling double teams as a reduced defensive tackle, he can be moved off the ball and driven back. Harris lacks functional arm length to lock out blockers at the point of attack and keep his pads clean. Similar to a boxer losing the reach battle, he fights well in tight quarters but not from a distance. His pass-rush repertoire needs to expand. Harris can benefit from adding more hand counters to deconstruct blocks quickly.
