The 2026 Panini Senior Bowl is officially in the books, wrapping up a week that’s as much about what happens on the practice field as what goes down during the game itself. For NFL scouts and front office decision-makers, the real value of Senior Bowl week comes from those padded practices-where players are put through the wringer in one-on-one drills, team periods, and competitive reps that give a clearer picture of who’s NFL-ready and who still has work to do.
This year’s Senior Bowl roster, like most, featured a handful of potential first-rounders and a deep pool of top-100 talent. And for a team like the Dallas Cowboys-currently without a pick on Day 2 of the draft-this week was a prime opportunity to identify prospects who could be in play with one of their two first-round selections in April.
Let’s break down five players who turned heads in Mobile and could very well end up wearing the star in the near future.
1. T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
T.J. Parker came into Senior Bowl week with something to prove.
Once considered a top-10 lock for the 2026 NFL Draft, his 2025 season at Clemson didn’t quite live up to the billing. But in Mobile, Parker reminded everyone why he was so highly regarded to begin with.
Built with NFL-ready size and the ability to line up in both two- and three-point stances, Parker showed the versatility that teams covet in today’s hybrid defensive fronts. That’s especially relevant for a team like Dallas, where the defensive scheme under new coordinator Christian Parker is still taking shape. Parker’s ability to win as both a pass rusher and run defender-even in a down year statistically-makes him a three-down contributor from day one.
The only knock? Questions remain about his top-end athleticism and burst off the edge.
That could limit his ceiling as a pure pass rusher, but if he continues building on his strong Senior Bowl showing, he might force his way back into the top-15 conversation. If not, he’s the kind of plug-and-play defender who’d be a value pick later in Round 1.
2. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Colton Hood came into the week with some first-round buzz-and he didn’t do anything to quiet it. In fact, he may have solidified his status as one of the top corners in this class.
At 6’1” with long arms and sticky man coverage skills, Hood checks a lot of boxes for teams looking for perimeter help. He’s exactly the type of cornerback Dallas has targeted in recent drafts-big, physical, and confident in one-on-one matchups. After two strong days of practice, Hood had the attention of every team picking in the back half of the first round.
Is pick No. 12 a little rich? Maybe. But if Dallas wants to shore up the secondary with a player who fits their prototype and can compete from day one, Hood’s name has to be in the mix.
3. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Few players boosted their stock more this week than Jacob Rodriguez. Coming off a standout season at Texas Tech, Rodriguez entered the week viewed as a Day 3 prospect-solid college tape, but questions about how his game would translate to the next level.
Those questions started to fade quickly in Mobile.
Rodriguez might not have ideal measurables-he’s undersized and lacks elite speed-but he plays with instincts and intensity that are hard to coach. He was consistently around the football in team periods, held his own in coverage drills, and showed the kind of physicality that makes evaluators take notice.
He’s got that “hair on fire” style that jumps off the screen. And while the game itself will add another data point, Rodriguez’s practice performance already has him firmly in the Day 2 conversation-especially if he tests well at the Combine.
4. Bud Clark, S, TCU
The Cowboys have been searching for a true difference-maker at safety for years. Bud Clark may not be a household name yet, but his week in Mobile put him squarely on the radar.
Clark brings size (6’2”, 190 lbs), versatility, and a high football IQ to the position. At TCU, he lined up all over the field-deep safety, nickel, even down in the box-and that Swiss Army knife skill set was on full display during Senior Bowl practices. Whether it was breaking on passes in coverage or flying downhill to make plays near the line of scrimmage, Clark showed he can impact the game in multiple ways.
He’s not just a safety-he’s a defensive chess piece. And for a Dallas defense that could use more flexibility on the back end, Clark presents an intriguing option, especially in the mid-to-late rounds if the board falls that way.
5. Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
Every year, there’s a player who shows up in Mobile and flat-out dominates beyond expectations. This year, that player was Kyle Louis.
Coming into the week, Louis was viewed as a high-motor, high-effort linebacker with flashes on tape but some inconsistency. That changed quickly.
From the first practice, Louis looked like the best coverage linebacker on the field. He diagnosed plays in a flash, closed gaps with authority, and held his own in man coverage-something that’s becoming more and more essential for modern NFL linebackers.
Like Rodriguez, Louis is undersized by traditional standards, but his range and instincts make him a fit as a WILL linebacker at the next level. His Senior Bowl performance was so strong that evaluators will now have to go back to the tape to reconcile what they saw in Mobile with what he put on film in 2024 and 2025.
Final Thoughts
The Senior Bowl is never just about the game-it’s about the body of work players put together across a week of competition, coaching, and scrutiny. For teams like the Cowboys, who are looking to maximize value with limited draft capital on Day 2, identifying risers and scheme fits from Mobile is critical.
This year, T.J. Parker reaffirmed his first-round credentials, Colton Hood made a strong case as a starting-caliber corner, and linebackers like Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis showed they can be more than just special teams contributors at the next level. Bud Clark, meanwhile, might just be the versatile safety Dallas has been missing.
The evaluations aren’t done yet-the Combine, pro days, and interviews still lie ahead-but for these five players, Mobile was more than just a stop on the draft journey. It was a statement.