What Should the St. Louis Rams be Watching Out for at the 2015 Senior Bowl?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL Draft preparation circuit really kicks into full gear on Tuesday afternoon as practices for the 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl begin. While the game is certainly a great opportunity for players to showcase themselves, the three full-contact practices are where players have the greatest opportunity to make an impression on NFL teams.

The 2014 draft class provided perhaps the best example in recent memory of what the Senior Bowl week can do for a player’s draft stock. Current St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin both went into the week as borderline first-rounders, projected by many to picked near the end of the round if they even were to be selected on the draft’s first day.

However, with dominant showings in the lineman drills during the Senior Bowl practices, Donald and Martin were able to prove themselves as surefire first-rounders, and they ended up being the draft’s 13th and 16th picks, respectively. Both went on to have tremendous seasons and were selected for the Pro Bowl as rookies. With these examples fresh in their minds, it’s difficult to understand why any senior prospect would decline to participate in the week’s festivities unless they view themselves as surefire top five picks. (Then again, maybe they should anyway; Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron declined to participate in the game last season, reportedly due to the fact that he didn’t want to damage his reputation as a potential first-rounder. He ended up being picked in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Bengals).

As the Rams head down to Mobile, Alabama to take in the festivities, here are a few players in particular that they might want to pay attention to.

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