The Senior Bowl is always a goldmine for dynasty scouting, especially for pass-catchers who get to showcase their skills in one-on-one drills. This year was no different, as wide receivers Jaylin Noel, Jack Bech, and Tez Johnson, along with tight ends Elijah Arroyo and Mason Taylor, put on a show, making defenders look silly. Running back Brashard Smith added some juice out of the backfield, proving his three-down skill-set as a former wideout. And while the QB play was, let’s say, uninspiring, Jaxson Dart did enough to keep fantasy managers intrigued—even if six of my top 10 QBs weren’t in Mobile to begin with.
With the NFL Combine up next, we’ll get the complete athletic picture to see who’s the real deal and who might be lacking athletically. Speed, agility, and measurables will either confirm the hype or expose the flaws. But one thing’s for sure—these guys have already boosted their stock and forced their way up the ladder in the dynasty conversation.
Let’s break down why this bunch is climbing my 2025 Dynasty Rookie Rankings and where they might land in your fantasy drafts.
2025 DYNASTY ROOKIE RISERS
QB JAXSON DART, OLE MISS (QB4, 22 OVR)
Jaxson Dart’s Senior Bowl showing was like a heated debate at a family dinner—some loved it, others weren’t sold. Trusted QB minds like Todd McShay and Dan Orlovsky had nothing but good things to say, while some Twitter scouts in Mobile seemed a little less enthusiastic. The truth? Dart did what he needed to do, even if the QB competition wasn’t exactly stacked.
With guys like Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel “headlining” the Senior Bowl, Dart had a clear path to shine, and took advantage. Sure, it would’ve been nice to see him go head-to-head with Will Howard or Kyle McCord—two guys with big arms who had monster 2024 seasons—but Dart still cemented himself as a top three or four QB in the class.
A strong NFL Combine could push him into late first- or early second-round territory in the NFL Draft, and for dynasty managers, that’s exactly where things would start getting interesting.
RB BRASHARD SMITH, SMU (RB13, 33 OVR)
Every so often, there’s that one wide receiver-turned-running back who makes scouts do a double take—think Ty Montgomery, Antonio Gibson, or last year’s riser, Tyrone Tracy Jr. In 2024, that guy is SMU’s Brashard Smith.
The Senior Bowl isn’t exactly designed for RBs to flex their early-down chops, but if you’ve got hands and route-running skills, you’ll turn heads. And Smith? He was out there making linebackers and safeties look silly.
Sure, one-on-ones favor the offense, but Smith showed off crisp routes and soft hands, proving he’s more than just a gadget guy. His lone season as a running back at SMU was a statistical feast—1,332 rushing yards, 39 catches, 327 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns. Like I was with Tracy last year, I’m way higher than the consensus on Smith, ranking him RB12 (+7 vs ECR). If your dynasty league rewards pass-catchers, he is the kind of sleeper you target before everyone else catches on.
WR JAYLIN NOEL, IOWA STATE (WR10, 30 OVR)
Jaylin Noel didn’t just win the week at the Senior Bowl—he owned it. I was already high on him before Mobile, but now? Consider Noel an early favorite of mine at his current ECR. He checked every box—physical, explosive, and a true three-level threat who proved he could win wherever he lined up. Noel is smooth, polished, and makes cornerbacks second-guess their life choices with his route-running.
Even before his Senior Bowl breakout, Noel looked like one of the biggest steals in a WR class that lacks last year’s depth. Whether it’s separating, making tough catches, or just consistently getting open, Noel does it all. After this performance, he might just be the biggest riser in the entire draft class—and I’m all in.
WR TEZ JOHNSON, OREGON (WR11, 32 OVR)
When Tez Johnson stepped on the scales in Mobile, he weighed in at a cute 5-foot-9, 156 lbs. However, he has some Tank Dell vibes to his game and was the ultimate competitor at Oregon — in one of the nation’s top offenses. Brother of Bo Nix, yes, you read that right, cooked the B1G this year and did the same at the Senior Bowl, separating in man-coverage (91.8% separation rate, per PFF).
Similarly to Tank Dell and Tutu Atwell, Johnson will be able to use his quickness to beat corners and make plays on the perimeter. He would also benefit in gadget situations as the ultimate chess piece. Expect him to go somewhere during Day 3 — which should only boost his dynasty stock.
WR JACK BECH, TCU (WR14, 37 OVR)
Jack Bech was the storyline of the Senior Bowl after scoring the game-winning touchdown just a month after his brother passed away in the Bourbon Street attack.
Bech is the kind of receiver who won’t wow you with flashy athleticism but will absolutely outmuscle defenders and make life miserable for DBs. With a rock-solid 66.7% contested catch rate, he knows how to impose his will at the catch point, and his hands are as reliable as they come—just one drop in 2024.
The biggest knock on Bech? He didn’t truly pop until his fourth year, and he’s not the crispest separator off the line. But at the end of the day, his blend of size, physicality, and football IQ makes him a sneaky dynasty sleeper. He’s the kind of receiver who might slip under the radar in rookie drafts—until he starts bullying defenders on Sundays.
TE ELIJAH ARROYO, MIAMI (TE6 , 39 OVR)
Not to toot my own horn here, but Elijah Arroyo was one of the players I was highest on before he dominated Mobile. Prior to the Senior Bowl, I was +5 ECR vs his position on the Miami tight end — now, things have evened up and the experts are on par with my initial ranking of TE6 overall.
At the Senior Bowl, Arroyo showed off his skill set by dusting slower linebackers and smaller defensive backs in coverage, proving to be one of the top overall pass-catchers at the pre-draft event. Standing at nearly 6-foot-5, 250 lbs, Arroyo brings size and athletic elements to the table that NFL GMs and Dynasty owners crave.
Arroyo had a brutal knee injury that ended his 2022 season, but bounced back this season with Cam Ward. His lack of career numbers are concerning, but he did put up a respectable 35-590-7 during his final season. Expect the former Hurricane to be in the TE4-TE6 convo.
TE MASON TAYLOR, LSU (TE5, 29 OVR)
Another one of my favorite tight ends in this deep tight end class is LSU’s Mason Taylor. I kept going back and forth between Texas’ Gunnar Helm, Elijah Arroyo, and Taylor, but the latter kept pace as my TE5. Taylor isn’t the crazy athlete or separator that Arroyo is, but he’s slowly turning into a three-down tight end who will most certainly make an early impact on Dynasty squads.
Taylor made contested catches and showed off his hands in Mobile, making him a coveted target for NFL teams. The son of NFL legend Jason Taylor should be in the third-round conversation on draft day for those who need an improving three-down tight end.
Other risers: LeQuint Allen (RB, Syracuse), Trevor Etienne (RB, Georgia), Devin Neal (RB, Kansas); Xavier Restrepo (WR, MIA); Jayden Higgins (WR, Iowa St.); Jalen Royals (WR, Utah St.); Terrance Furgeson (TE, Oregon); Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, Bowling Green)
