Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.
MOBILE, Ala. — The first official practice of the 2025 Senior Bowl has wrapped, so it's time to unroll the list of names who stood out.
For full disclosure, I debated a few different ways to set up coverage of this year's event. Would I do offense- and defense-oriented lists? Would I break it up by risers and fallers? Would I dedicate a story to the opinions of those in the draft media with whom I rubbed elbows?
All of those ideas are potentially still on the table for future stories, but I felt like this was a good amuse-bouche to precede the courses to come.
While much of the work has already been done for the 2025 NFL Draft by the league's scouting departments and front offices, the public's attention is just beginning to turn towards April. The Senior Bowl's slogan isn't "The Draft Starts in Mobile" for nothing.
This year's version of the all-star game — much like the draft — is laden with talented defensive players. That's a good thing for the Falcons, who could add a few players to their defense this offseason. A few notable names really stood out on Tuesday, so let's go through five players who Atlanta fans may want to look into during draft season.
EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
Green feels like a player who is going to pick up momentum as attention shifts to the draft. The Thundering Herd pass rusher had a true breakout season in 2024 as a redshirt sophomore, leading all FBS players with 17 sacks and 22.5 tackles for a loss. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Green's explosiveness, lateral quickness and bend were on display.
Atlanta has its third defensive coordinator in as many draft cycles, so it remains to be seen exactly what skills Jeff Ulbrich and his staff will look for in an edge rusher. It's easy to find reasons to like Green, though, and his energetic play style would ingratiate him quickly to Falcons fans.
CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss
I'm cheating a little bit here and picking a player I already liked heading into Mobile. Like last year, I believe there are a lot of cornerbacks who could become successful NFL players in this class. Amos impressed me during his senior season at Ole Miss. He had 13 pass breakups with three interceptions and broke out on a defense that was arguably one of the best in college football last year.
He looks the part of a professional cornerback with a good frame and smooth hips. Amos' physical skills were clear during Tuesday's practice, and he played with a confidence to match. There honestly wasn't a ton of action for Amos during the team periods because the quarterbacks weren't challenging him deep.
DT T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
I debated between several players for this spot, but Sanders had some true splash moments that stuck in my mind. His combination of length and burst resulted in maybe the most impressive one-on-one rep of the afternoon.
Yes, Sanders plays in the interior of the defensive line, which is not the area of the defense in need of the most attention, but he has very real upside in the NFL. Sanders, who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, has the frame and ability to play multiple spots on a defensive line, which he did for the Gamecocks. He's athletic enough to factor into the pass rush but strong and long enough to handle the run game. Again, I think there are other positions to consider ahead of interior defender at this point, but Sanders looked the part.
CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Hairston was the other starting corner for the American team on Tuesday, playing opposite of Amos. Both are equally deserving of a spot on this list, because they stood a cut above the rest. Each move Hairston made was precise, and he showed a high-level awareness on the field. It's no wonder why Hairston has six interceptions and three pick-sixes over the last two years.
What I liked most from the former Kentucky corner was his performance in the run game. Keep in mind there wasn't full tackling during the practice, so this all comes with that big caveat, but he was quick to disengage his blocker and drive on the ball carrier. Hairston has ball-hawk skills and is a willing tackler. Two big boxes — checked.
RB Brashard Smith, SMU
I wanted to include at least one offensive player in this list of five, and Smith got the nod over LSU offensive guard Miles Frazier, who also had a great day. While the Falcons appear to be set up well on offense, especially at running back, the draft is still about adding good players to the roster, and Smith looked really good. In the later rounds, he could be a wise pickup.
A former wide receiver, Smith consistently won his 1-on-1 drills with crisp routes. He also had the best run of any back on Tuesday, showcasing the combination of skills that allowed him to gain 1,659 total yards and score 18 touchdowns last year for SMU. His most immediate impact could come in the return game, where he has been productive and the Falcons would like to add competition.