The Reese’s Senior Bowl had three players leave after Day 2 of practices: Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart, Marshall EDGE Mike Green, and Ole Miss CB Trey Amos. What changed? Who provided the news they were hoping for at the Senior Bowl? The Atlanta Falcons, picking 15th overall, are in a prime position to address their need for an EDGE rusher and have the draft capital to confidently say to Mike Green and Shemar Stewart, “If you’re available, you’re our choice.”
Make no mistake: the Senior Bowl departures were sudden. It could not have been more than half an hour between the time I interviewed Shemar Stewart and when he loaded his bags to leave Mobile.
Stewart must have been informed of his draft position, as everything was in order. He is now focusing on where he wants to head into the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Stewart expressed that he is surprised fans and the media question his pass rush skills, focusing solely on sack statistics, even adding that it “blows my mind” at Senior Bowl Media Day.
I told all the EDGE rushers and linebackers I interviewed throughout the week, “The Falcons have an OBVIOUS need for your position.” A former five-star recruit from Florida, Stewart has 19 SEC starts, Third Team All-SEC, honors to bring to rookie camp and absolutely freakish genetics.
At the Senior Bowl, Stewart measured 6 feet 5 inches and weighed 281 pounds. His hands are heavy like cinder blocks, and he throws with great force, striking linemen precisely in their strike zone. A defensive line coach will lose wanting to ball Stewart’s clay: constant disruption with disciplined pad level and leverage; Stewart’s size and bull rush will put anyone on their backside.
No name makes a flying high impression during Senior Bowl week than Mike Green, the dynamic pass rusher from Marshall. Whether it was his opponents, teammates, NFL executives, media, or curious onlookers, Green had everyone in the building marveling at his performances, almost like they were making comic book-style Batman noises in awe.
The 6-foot-3, 251-pound Green eliminated any concerns about his size this week. He stood out as one of the top two or three players. It would have surprised those familiar with the situation more if Green had returned for Senior Bowl Day 3 than it did to hear that he had packed his bags and left town.
The simplest way to project Mike Green’s future might be to say, “Welcome to the NFC South, kid.” This part of the country is familiar territory for the former Virginia and Marshall rusher. The Carolina Panthers, picking at 8th, the New Orleans Saints at 9th, and the Falcons at 15th are all teams that would welcome him. The same is said for Shemar Stewart.
I leave Mobile with Mike Green & Shemar Stewart as the Top 11 prospects on my NFL Draft Board.
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