Senior Bowl Week in Mobile is one of the most important checkpoints on the NFL Draft calendar, as it remains the premier stage for senior prospects to prove they belong.
There’s no substitute for seeing players in pads, running NFL concepts, and competing against comparable talent under the watchful eyes of every NFL decision-maker.
Quarterbacks Take Center Stage at Senior Bowl
For quarterbacks, the event is especially critical. Practice reps matter just as much, if not more, than the game itself, as they show how they’re progressing throughout the week.
This is where arm talent, processing speed, leadership, and adaptability are tested in a pro environment. The 2025 quarterback class doesn’t feature a clear-cut elite group, but it does have depth, intrigue, and plenty of unanswered questions.
Some passers are here to confirm their draft standing. Others are fighting to prove they’re more than just potential. And a few could use this week to completely change the narrative around their evaluation.
Garrett Nussmeier and Diego Pavia Highlight the Senior Bowl Group
The Senior Bowl has a strong history of showcasing quarterbacks who later became NFL mainstays, such as Josh Allen, Dak Prescott, Bo Nix, and many more, sharpening their stock in Mobile. This year’s group may not have the same star power on paper, but the opportunity is just as significant.
This quarterback room is defined by contrast. There are high-upside developmental athletes like Taylen Green and Cole Payton, established college stars who need to validate their projection like Garrett Nussmeier and Diego Pavia, and wild-card prospects such as Luke Altmyer and Sawyer Robertson who could swing evaluations with a strong week.
Below is a deeper dive into each quarterback’s profile and what’s at stake for them during Senior Bowl week.
Luke Altmyer, Illinois
Altmyer is one of the more overlooked quarterbacks in this class. After transferring from Ole Miss to Illinois, he provided steady, reliable play but never quite captured national attention. While his 2025 season didn’t meet the heightened expectations following a strong prior year, he also didn’t regress in any meaningful way.
Altmyer ranks as QB13 on the PFSN Consensus Big Board with a 70.44 draft grade. At 6’2“, 205 pounds, his frame is a concern for scouts who would like to see more bulk to withstand NFL contact.
His production reflects a careful, efficient style, posting nearly identical TD:INT ratios the past two seasons (22:6 in 2024, 22:5 in 2025). He protects the football, but explosive plays are limited due to a below-average arm.
While he offers some mobility and experience, Altmyer isn’t a true dual threat and lacks elite physical traits. His profile reads as average across the board, functional, dependable, but lacking a defining strength. For Altmyer, the Senior Bowl is about showing command, anticipation, and timing against better athletes to avoid being labeled as just a camp arm.
Taylen Green, Arkansas
Green is one of the most fascinating developmental quarterbacks in the 2026 class. After beginning his career at Boise State, Green transferred to Arkansas and started the past two seasons. In his first year with the Razorbacks, he eclipsed 3,000 passing yards for the first time, added over 600 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, and helped guide the team to a 7–6 record.
At 6’6”, 225 pounds, Green looks the part. He’s an effortless mover with legitimate athleticism, above-average arm strength, and impressive arm elasticity. At his best, his creativity, smooth motion, and ability to layer throws make scouts dream about what he could become.
The issue is consistency. Green’s processing speed, field vision, and rhythm on true dropbacks remain erratic. Despite being a multi-year starter, those developmental leaps haven’t fully materialized. He’ll also enter the league as an older rookie at 24, which adds urgency to his evaluation.
Senior Bowl practices are massive for Green. Showing improved timing, decision-making, and comfort within structure could solidify him as a worthwhile early Day 3 investment with upside.
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Few quarterbacks have more riding on this week than Nussmeier.
Entering the 2025 season, Nussmeier was widely viewed as a potential first-round pick, with some evaluators projecting him as a top-10 selection or even QB1. Instead, his season fell short of those lofty expectations. His PFSN CFB QB Impact Score dropped to 75.9, ranking 110th nationally after finishing 12th the year prior.
Despite that regression, Nussmeier still checks in as QB3 on the PFSN Consensus Big Board, largely due to a weaker overall quarterback class and the positional value that inevitably boosts passers up boards.
At 6’1”, 205 pounds, Nussmeier’s size is a legitimate concern. Durability issues showed up throughout the season, contributing to his inconsistency. His arm talent is solid but not elite, and while he has some off-script ability and angle freedom, he’s not a dynamic creator.
Where Nussmeier wins is upstairs. His processing speed is elite, and when things are clean, he can carve defenses apart. However, for a quarterback without standout physical tools, the operational execution must be flawless, and it wasn’t always there on tape.
A strong Senior Bowl week could help reestablish confidence in his projection as an early starter-capable quarterback.
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Pavia is one of the most recognizable names in this group, and for good reason. A Heisman finalist, Pavia transformed Vanderbilt from an SEC bottom-dweller into a legitimate contender. After a 7–6 season in 2024, he led the Commodores to a 10–3 record and came within reach of the College Football Playoff in 2025.
His 94.8 PFSN QB Impact Score was the highest ever recorded, underscoring just how special his 2025 season was.
Still, NFL projection is a different conversation. Pavia ranks QB14 on the PFSN Consensus Big Board due to several concerns: smaller stature, a dual-threat-heavy play style, pocket consistency, older age, and reported maturity questions during evaluations.
That’s exactly why the Senior Bowl matters so much for him. This week gives Pavia a chance to show growth as a passer, command of an NFL offense, and leadership in a pro setting. He’s already proven he thrives under pressure. Mobile is his chance to translate college superstardom into NFL viability.
Cole Payton, North Dakota State
Cole Payton might be the sleeper of the entire quarterback group.
North Dakota State has a strong quarterback lineage. Carson Wentz, Trey Lance, and Cam Miller all paved the way, and Payton could be next. Rather than transferring, he waited his turn, developed, and emerged as a legitimate prospect.
At 6’3”, 230 pounds, Payton brings a physical, athletic profile with a big arm and competitive edge. He’s still raw as a passer, but the traits are undeniable. PFSN ranks him as QB8, which may surprise some, but the tape supports the upside.
The FCS level of competition will always raise questions, but teams drafting on Day 3 often bet on tools and mentality. If Payton proves he can hang with FBS talent during Senior Bowl practices, his stock could rise quickly.
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
Robertson entered the season as a potential breakout candidate, and while Baylor didn’t reach those heights at the team level, his individual tools remain intriguing. He checks every physical box NFL teams look for: 6’4”, 220 pounds, strong arm, and confidence under center.
Statistically, Robertson impressed, ranking fourth in passing touchdowns and third in passing yards per game while leading an offense that averaged over 31 points per game. However, his PFSN Prospect Grade sits at 72.53 (QB11), reflecting concerns beyond the box score.
Baylor’s offense leaned heavily on volume, and Robertson rarely operated in a pro-style system. His 60.3% completion rate ranked No. 119 nationally, and his 12 interceptions were among the most in the country.
For Robertson, the Senior Bowl is about refinement, showing footwork, decision-making, under-center comfort, and consistency. If he does that, his physical upside could push him firmly up boards.
