Reese’s Senior Bowl 2019: 5 prospects who improved NFL draft stock

Mississippi State edge rusher Montez Sweat had a lot to prove coming into this week in Mobile after seeing his draft stock steadily on the decline. Sweat struggled throughout November of the college football season, producing only 2.5 sacks down the stretch run of the season after a torrid start to his senior campaign in Starkville.

Sweat had looked like a first round lock throughout the season, but many analysts saw him as a fringe-first rounder, potentially even falling down to day two of the draft. There were legitimate questions about his motor and his ability to set the edge in the run game.

Sweat quieted that nonsense with a huge week at the Senior Bowl, culminating in another strong showing during the actual game. Not only did he get consistent pressure on the North’s quarterbacks, he was arguably even better against the run. He was effective setting the edge and made plays in the backfield and right at the line-of-scrimmage to stop runners.

Sweat was unblockable all week, and that didn’t change during the game. Working in his favor as well were his elite measurables. He measured at 6-foot-6 and 252 pounds to go along with a ridiculous 84-and-a-half-inch wingspan, which is the longest wingspan for any prospect since at least 1999.

Sweat consistently uses that wingspan to his advantage, striking opposing linemen and preventing them from getting their hands on him. He’s got great speed off the edge as well as a terrific bull-rush that he used to put multiple linemen on their backsides throughout the week.

Sweat is now comfortably a first-round lock, and could go as high as the Top 10 with teams coveting edge rushers and the draft lacking quality depth at the position after the first few guys.