2026 NFL Draft: Matchups to watch at the Panini Senior Bowl

OT Gennings Dunker vs. Edge T.J. Parker: Dunker has been dominant as Iowa’s right tackle over the past two seasons, earning an elite 90.0 PFF grade over that span, highlighted by an 89.8 run-blocking mark. Parker finished the season with an 80.7 PFF grade and 41 pressures and has been consistently productive across his three years at Clemson.

WR Ja’Kobi Lane vs. CB Malik Muhammad: Lane may be the best wide receiver in attendance at the Senior Bowl after posting an 81.8 PFF receiving grade as a junior at USC. The projected second-round pick has prototypical size at 6-foot-4 and has hauled in 22 of his 46 contested targets over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Muhammad owns a strong 79.5 career PFF grade in zone coverage, but that mark drops to 68.9 in man coverage. His ability to mirror receivers and hold up in isolated reps during Senior Bowl practices could play a major role in determining whether he can climb draft boards.

Everything you need to prepare for draft season: The PFF Senior Bowl Tool allows fans to view and compare participating players using their full 2025 PFF grades, wins above average (WAA) and measurements, while the 2026 Big Board and Big Board Builder allow users to gauge the draft landscape and begin shaping their own evaluations. Fans looking to apply those evaluations can then explore outcomes through the PFF Mock Draft Simulator as the draft picture begins to take shape.

It’s officially Senior Bowl week — one of the most important checkpoints on the NFL draft calendar and a critical opportunity for prospects to separate themselves in front of decision-makers across the league.

More than 130 draft-eligible prospects are in Mobile, Alabama, taking part in a full week of practices where one-on-one reps often matter more than the game itself. For many players, strong showings here can reshape their draft range before the combine even begins.

Here are three of the top one-on-one matchups to watch during practices this week.

OT Gennings Dunker vs. Edge T.J. Parker

Dunker will be one to watch in Mobile as he’s expected to take reps at both tackle and guard, giving scouts a clearer picture of where his long-term home may be at the next level. The projected top-40 pick has been dominant as Iowa’s right tackle over the past two seasons, earning an elite 90.0 PFF grade over that span, highlighted by an 89.8 run-blocking mark.

While Clemson endured a disappointing 2025 campaign, Parker remained a bright spot on the Tigers’ defense. He finished the season with an 80.7 PFF grade and 41 pressures and has been consistently productive across his three years in the program. Parker owns an 89.9 career PFF grade, including 85-plus marks as both a pass rusher and run defender. A strong week at the Senior Bowl could be enough to solidify his status as a first-round pick in April.

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IOL Jake Slaughter vs. DI Caleb Banks

Slaughter and Banks have gone head-to-head in practice at Florida for the past three years, but that battle moves to center stage this week in Mobile.

Slaughter has been the model of consistency as Florida’s starting center over that span. Since 2023, his 87.0 PFF grade ranks second among all FBS centers, trailing only Jackson Powers-Johnson. He leads that group with a 90.1 run-blocking grade and also sits 10th in pass blocking at 86.8. Currently projected as a third-round pick, Slaughter could elevate his stock significantly with a strong Senior Bowl showing.

Banks may be viewed as a potential first-round pick, but he still has plenty to prove in this setting after appearing in just three games in 2025 due to a foot injury. When healthy, he’s been a disruptive force along Florida’s defensive line, recording 56 pressures over the past three seasons. A productive week of one-on-one reps would go a long way toward reaffirming his first-round case.

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WR Ja’Kobi Lane vs. CB Malik Muhammad

Lane may be the best wide receiver in attendance at the Senior Bowl after posting an 81.8 PFF receiving grade as a junior at USC. The projected second-round pick has prototypical size at 6-foot-4 and has hauled in 22 of his 46 contested targets over the past two seasons. However, there are real questions about his ability to separate in one-on-one situations, as his 44.7% open-target rate since 2024 ranks in the 12th percentile. How consistently Lane can create space in Mobile will be critical for his evaluation.

Muhammad enters the week with similar questions from the opposite side of the matchup. The projected third-round pick owns a strong 79.5 career PFF grade in zone coverage, but that mark drops to 68.9 in man coverage. His ability to mirror receivers and hold up in isolated reps during Senior Bowl practices could play a major role in determining whether he can climb draft boards.