Malachi Fields Makes a Statement at Senior Bowl Day 1: Size, Strength, and Something to Prove
The Senior Bowl is always a proving ground - part audition, part battleground - and on Day 1 in Mobile, Alabama, Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields wasted no time showing why he's one of the most intriguing wideouts in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
With over 100 draft hopefuls on the field and NFL scouts and execs lining the sidelines, Fields stood out - and not just because of his 6-foot-4, 218-pound frame. The former Notre Dame and Virginia receiver put together a strong first day of practice, earning high praise from both NFL.com analysts and ESPN’s Jordan Reid, who called him the top offensive player on the American team.
While Fields didn’t pull off any viral highlight-reel grabs on Tuesday, what he did show was arguably more important: consistency, physicality, and the ability to win in multiple areas of the field. He stacked corners on vertical routes, used his frame to shield defenders on underneath throws, and showed off a catch radius that bailed out a few off-target passes. For quarterbacks trying to find rhythm in a short week, a big-bodied target like Fields who can make the tough grabs goes a long way.
From Virginia to Notre Dame - and Now Mobile
Fields’ journey to this moment has been all about growth - both as a player and a person. After four years at Virginia, he hit the transfer portal and landed at Notre Dame, where he made the most of his lone season with the Irish.
In 12 games, he posted 36 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns, averaging a career-best 17.5 yards per catch. That kind of downfield production turned heads, especially when paired with some of the highlight grabs he made throughout the season.
By the time he wrapped up his college career, Fields had totaled 165 catches, 2,479 yards, and 16 touchdowns - a body of work that speaks to both his reliability and big-play potential.
And now, at the Senior Bowl, he’s looking to take that next step.
“I was hoping to boost my draft stock, just playing on a bigger stage of football and also just getting out of Charlottesville, getting out the hometown, growing as a person,” Fields told NFL Network. “I think I definitely accomplished that goal of mine. Showing the world that I can be that dog that I know is inside of me... those big contested catches, those big plays down the field.”
Draft Stock on the Line
Fields knows the stakes. The difference between being a second-round pick and slipping into Day 3 could mean millions.
A second-round selection could net him a four-year deal worth around $7.75 million. But if he slides to the fourth round or later, that number could drop below $5.4 million.
That’s the kind of gap that makes every route, every rep, every catch at the Senior Bowl matter.
Currently ranked as the No. 13 wide receiver on ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.'s big board, Fields is firmly in that second-to-fourth-round range. That means his performance this week in Mobile could be the difference between being a Day 2 lock or a Day 3 value pick.
He’s approaching the opportunity with focus and preparation. Arriving in Mobile early, Fields spent extra time working with the American team’s quarterbacks - Taylen Green (Arkansas), Luke Altmyer (Illinois), and Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) - to build chemistry and get comfortable with the playbook.
“We’ve been here for four extra days,” Fields said. “Getting time with each other, going through the playbook, the script, the new install - it’s been pretty smooth with the transition between three new quarterbacks.”
That early work paid off. On Day 1, Fields won multiple reps downfield and showed he could be a consistent target regardless of who was under center.
Physical Tools and a Julio Jones Blueprint
Fields plays the X-receiver role - the physical outside wideout who can win with size, strength, and body control. And when you ask him who he models his game after, he doesn’t hesitate: Julio Jones.
“He was just a bigger, faster, physical dude,” Fields said. “He caught everything, so that’s what I try to do.
Whatever ball’s thrown my way, I’m trying to snag it. I’m trying to use my size to help me get open.
It’s just another aspect to my game that I can use to the best of my ability.”
That mindset is clear in the way Fields attacks each route. He’s not a burner, and he’s not going to create five yards of separation on every play - but he doesn’t need to. His game is built around winning contested catches, using leverage, and making himself a quarterback’s best friend in tight windows.
The Areas for Growth
Of course, no prospect is perfect, and Fields is no exception. The biggest question mark right now is his ability to consistently separate against tight man coverage. That limitation narrows his route tree and puts pressure on him to win with physicality and timing.
As NFL.com analysts put it, “Once he gets top positioning, he’s hard to beat.” But the challenge is getting there - especially against NFL-caliber corners.
There was one rep on Wednesday where Washington cornerback Ephesians Prysock stuck with Fields stride-for-stride and prevented a clean release over the middle. It’s the kind of play that highlights where Fields still has room to grow - refining his footwork, sharpening his breaks, and learning how to create just enough daylight to make those contested catches a little easier.
To his credit, Fields isn’t ducking the critique.
“I feel like I do a pretty good job of creating that separation,” he said. “But there’s things that you can definitely do better, especially when you’re out here competing against the best. They’ve gone up against the top receivers, so I just want to come out here and give them my best and make sure that I’m a technician with every route I’m running.”
The Bottom Line
Malachi Fields came to Mobile with something to prove - and on Day 1, he took a big step toward doing just that. He’s got the physical traits NFL teams covet in a boundary receiver, and he’s showing flashes of the polish and competitiveness that could make him a valuable addition to a pro roster.
There’s still work to be done, and Fields knows it. But if he continues stacking strong practices and showing he can dominate against top-tier competition, he’ll be climbing up draft boards in no time.
For now, he’s doing exactly what he set out to do: showing the world he belongs.