Lammey: Broncos talk to Lock, Jones, other top-level Senior Bowl talent

The second leg of the “All-Star Road Trip” takes me to Mobile, Alabama, and the 2019 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

For 14 years in a row, I’ve made this road trip to see some of the best incoming talent to the NFL. Last year, for example, we saw first-round quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen at the Senior Bowl.

This season, I want to see if guys like Drew Lock (Missouri) and/or Daniel Jones (Duke) are able to impress enough to be selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.

The weather was better on Thursday, so practices were back outside at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

I monitored the last day of practice closely, feverishly taking notes. After that, I was able to double-check my notes against the coach’s film.

Here is my practice report for Day 3 of the 2019 Senior Bowl:

Dax a fact, Jack

There is a sleeper at the tight end position that more people need to know about. Dax Raymond, from Utah State, has been making plays, somewhat quietly but consistently, here in Mobile.

Raymond measures in at 6-foot-4-inches and 249 pounds, but he plays larger than his size.

He knows how to use his frame to box out smaller defenders and does a good job of plucking passes away from his body. While not a speed demon, Raymond is surprisingly athletic after the catch and can pull away from linebackers tasked with covering him over the middle.

Any team looking for a good developmental prospect should be interested in Raymond. Currently seen as a seventh-round pick or undrafted free agent, Raymond’s stock has to be on the rise after the positive impression he left at the Senior Bowl.

Potty mouth

You can hear some interesting things when watching football practices. On Thursday, Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner had some choice words working with teammates in blocking drills.

On one play, Risner and fellow offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom successfully halted a stunt by the defensive line. After the play, both big men were hooting and hollering about their win — and a few choice words happened to be shouted. Later in practice, Risner got into a fight with defensive lineman Zach Allen.

Clearly, Risner backs down from no man. He talked this week about how his best position is right tackle and he wants to be noticed for his strength and physical play.

It sounds like Risner has worked his way into first-round consideration by those in the scouting community. I believe he has been noticed in Mobile and might be the best player of any position at this game.

Broncos buzz

Teams meet with players after practice, and we’ve already seen Broncos scouts talk to some intriguing prospects when the day on the field is done. Here’s a list of the most interesting players seen talking to Broncos scouts in Mobile:

» Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State

» Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

» Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

» Jaylon Ferguson, OLB/DE, Louisiana Tech

They talked to more players than just these four, but these players are considered top-level talents in this draft class.

The Broncos may not be focused in at quarterback with the No. 10-overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Clearly, they want to get a feel for great players on both sides of the ball at the Senior Bowl.

 

 

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