First off, what’s the toughest part of all of this work for you and the Senior Bowl?
I’d say the toughest thing is just balancing everything – there’s a lot of different hats you need to wear – from scouting to recruiting players.
There’s also the community aspect – we do a lot of events leading up to the game and a lot of speaking engagements which is time-consuming. And you have to manage a lot of people and budgets. You’re running a business.
And add to that the recruiting – through social media and other means. Guys just don’t show up. It’d be awesome if we just sent out invites and guys came!
We have a big scouting staff though- 11 former NFL scouts work for us to help put our board together for the game and put the rosters together.
This year was unique because it was the 75th anniversary game. We brought 16 legends back plus had a concert featuring the Counting Crows. Thank God we have a great staff!
As a scout, what do you see that the Senior Bowl provides that is unique for teams?
I think the biggest thing is that we have the best players here. For the third straight year we had over 100 players drafted – we never had 100 players drafted before that. That’s 40% of the draft class. This year we included Juniors so we expect that to go up to 50%.
I also think access to good players and the way we structure interviews – that was well-received by teams. After Covid we felt even more obligated to put the game on for GMs. We formalized interviews and made sure each team got 55 minutes with the quarterbacks which is much more than they’d get elsewhere.
I think just being there all week on the field as players practice – seeing their body language and facial expressions. You don’t get that watching tape. That’s why Omar and Coach Tomlin are here, and Kevin Colbert before Omar. Every coach has their own suite above the field to watch practices so they aren’t bothered and most use those, but Mike is down on the field every day connecting with players. I told him I appreciated that and he just told me “Jim – why wouldn’t I? I learn something new about these guys every day!”
The combine is more corporate – teams get less of that player connection. Less interaction with players. I love the combine – especially when I was scouting for teams, but you get a shorter window there to get to know guys.
What stands out to you most about this draft class overall- from the guys you saw?
It’s strong at the top but then falls off of a cliff around round four or so. A lot of kids stayed for their fifth and sixth years for NIL money. We really have two full classes this year smashed together. The talent really falls off after round four.
A lot of the players that didn’t get Senior Bowl invites this year went back for the NIL money – that wiped out those day three grades. We circled back to guys who would have been late round guys but they chose to stay for that NIL money.
It will be interesting to see how teams address those later round picks. They may just take guys that normally would have been undrafted free agents at those picks just to avoid the crazy bidding process that goes on with those players.
What do you see are some of the biggest changes in the scouting world you’ve seen over the past few years – and is it a good change?
Analytics for sure. Personnel people have to embrace it but have been reluctant to do so. The owners have been driving that process but the scouts have been resistant. But it’s a good cross-check for those that have started to really use it.
Also – technology. We used to be beholden to the schools to send us game footage – on beta tape! Now, they send digital files Saturday night to the NFL and scouts can watch game footage already on Sundays.
Getting into the Steelers needs. The Steelers need a center and the top-rated centers were there at the Senior Bowl. Who are some guys that are most day-one ready that fit the Steelers and why do they fit what the Steelers do so well?
The center class is really strong – people didn’t really realize how strong it was until the Senior Bowl.
In the first round Powers-Johnson and Barton are the top two centers. Barton played center early in his career and was going to play center a lot at the Senior Bowl but was injured. Barton is a bigger guy – he’s different than the other guys because of his size and can play multiple spots.
Frazier – he played in Pittsburgh’s back yard. He was a champion wrestler and coaches like that. He’s a tough kid and grows on you the more you watch him. He’s played a ton of football and can come in day one and start at center for you. And he’s a seven-to-eight year, two-contract guy. Teams will love that.
In later rounds, guys like Bo Lemer from Arkansas and Dom Puni from Kansas are guys I can see being taken in the third round. Puni can play every spot on the line.
Some say center may drop as a position – do you see that?
A lot of centers don’t go early, but if you rewind the draft after seeing how Creed Humphrey has played after being taken in round two, I promise you someone takes him in round one. Centers are critical for communication and leadership. A guy like Frazier – a tough, experienced center who will player for two contracts and solidify your line – why wouldn’t you take him round one if you needed a center?
Same with receiver – who complements a guy like Pickens that was there from your perspective? And why?
I wouldn’t worry about complementing Pickens – just get a good receiver who can get open and make plays. The Steelers likely want a guy that can come in and play right away – that means a guy with good maturity and football intelligence – someone who can come in and play right away. I don’t think the Steelers want to wait to develop a receiver for a couple of years – they seem to have a glaring need right now.
Ladd McConkey is ready to go right now – he can play inside or outside and is a good community guy as well.
Roman Wilson is also a good buttoned-up dude. Ricky Pearsall will play right away as well. If they need a guy to play right away those are the types of guys I think they’d look at.
Any sleepers that you’ve seen this draft- and what makes them sleepers?
Puni and Lemer could do it for the Steelers. Connecticut guard Haines is a sleeper as is receiver Luke McCaffrey – Christian’s brother who played for Rice. He was a quarterback and is just in his second year at receiver. He made a massive jump after his first year and is the toughest receiver in the draft. Ironic for a former quarterback. He doesn’t shy away from contact and blew up the combine. His highlight reel is better than any receiver I’ve seen in this draft – like his one-handed catches in traffic. I think he goes in the third round.
At corner, the Steelers may look for a good slot corner in the third round or later. Who were some of the top slot guys you see fit the Steelers physical style of defense?
Max Melton and Mark Sanistrell will be gone by round two I think. Andru Phillips had a great week in Mobile – I think he’ll go in the third. He fits that Steelers need as a tough guy and can play inside or outside.
James Brownlee from Louisville is another guy that has flown under the radar. As a pure coverage guy I think he had the best week of any defensive back at the Senior Bowl.
Also two safeties – Tykee Smith and Javon Bullard from Georgia – both of them. They fit that nickel-safety bill everybody is looking for. Both ran well at the combine and when you look at their tape, you come away thinking these are really good football players. That’s the highest compliment I think you can give a player.
Lastly, what excites you most about the whole process from your standpoint?
Seeing where guys end up. I know this is entertainment for fans, but what gets lost in the draft is that this is the culmination of so much hard work these players have put in for years – many since Pop Warner Football. After the sacrifices they’ve made – and for many, their families as well – seeing them succeed is what does it for me. That’s what makes this such a fun and rewarding job. You get to connect with these guys and see them in the end realize their dreams.