The Senior Bowl has come and gone, and the NFL Combine lies ahead just one month from today.
Triple the number of draft prospects will be in Indianapolis, making last week all the more important for the players invited to Mobile to make a name for themselves.
Here are the nine who did the best to impress and should be filed away by Browns fans as the buildup to the 2018 NFL Draft continues. The list is understandably heavy on offense.
QB Josh Allen (Wyoming) - One of the biggest stories throughout the week in Mobile, Allen dealt with some accuracy issues on the practice field but thrived in the game setting. He led two second-half touchdown drives and finished 9-of-13 for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He'll continue to work on his accuracy and other fundamentals while working in San Clemente, California, alongside fellow top quarterback prospect Sam Darnold of USC.
QB Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) - The 2017 Heisman trophy winner was voted as the top quarterback after his performance on the practice fields throughout the week. Though his mother is dealing with an illness, Mayfield hung around for the first half of Saturday's game and played on a limited basis. Browns GM John Dorsey saw plenty of Mayfield during his senior season, including an in-person appearance when the Sooners faced Kansas. "He's the Heisman Trophy winner. I think that speaks for itself," Dorsey said. "He's had a wonderful season."
RB Rashaad Penny (San Diego State) - After a relatively quiet week of practice, Penny was one of the biggest reasons why the South team routed the North, 45-16. He took a short pass 73 yards for a touchdown and averaged more than 7 yards on his nine carries. The nation's leading rusher in 2017, Penny is poised to be available when the Browns make two of the first three picks in the second round.
RB Kalen Ballage (Arizona State) - The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Ballage was simply one of the most impressive athletes to watch throughout the week. Even though he's a bulldozer of a runner, Ballage is equally impressive as a pass-catcher and was clocked as the fastest running back through the first two practices. As a junior, Ballage caught a whopping 44 passes for 469 yards. If Isaiah Crowell leaves the Browns in free agency, they could be in the market for a bruising back such as Ballage when the draft arrives.
WR Michael Gallup (Colorado State) - One of the nation's top producing wide receivers over the past two seasons, Gallup had a nice week in Mobile and came away as one of the most impressive at his position. After a stint at junior college, Gallup caught 176 passes for 2,685 yards and 21 touchdowns in two seasons with the Rams. He could be an intriguing Day 2 option.
WR James Washington (Oklahoma State) - The 2017 Biletnikoff Award winner lived up to his billing and left Mobile as the top performing practice player among wide receivers and tight ends. His measurables aren't ideal (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) but he simply gets open. After three straight seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards, he won't get past the second round.
DE Marcus Davenport (Texas-San Antonio) - One of the top-rated prospects entering the week, Davenport finished strong with a half-sack and 19-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the game. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah wrote that Davenport was "unstoppable" late in the week of practice after a bit of a slow start. He could be this year's second-best pass rushing prospect behind North Carolina State's Bradley Chubb.
DB Siran Neal (Jacksonville State) - The first player from his school to ever play in the Senior Bowl, Neal impressed and solidified his status as a Day 3 sleeper. At 6-foot and 206 pounds, Neal provides a strong, physical presence at the position and has the versatility to play at safety if necessary.
DB M.J. Stewart (North Carolina) - He was voted as the best defensive back on the practice fields. At 5-foot-10 and 198 pounds, Stewart could likely find a role with an NFL team as a nickel cornerback. Former North Carolina defensive coordinator Gene Chizik called "Stewart" a "flat baller" and said he's as good as the three Thorpe Award winners he's coached in the past.
