The Shrine and Senior Bowls are the two biggest events during the predraft cycle regarding evaluation, because they are the last opportunities for prospects to show what they have in an actual football setting.

The NFL combine may draw more attention with the entirety of professional football descending upon Indianapolis, while everyone enjoys seeing elite athletes post eye-popping testing numbers. However, an opportunity to get onto the field and go mano a mano with someone across the line of scrimmage in an unfamiliar setting where competition reigns supreme is invaluable to the process.

Every single player traveling to Arlington, Texas, (Shrine) or Mobile, Ala. (Senior), has an opportunity in front of them to show out and improve their draft stock.

Very little downside exists in these settings. Last season, quarterback Bo Nix had a terrible week of practice only to go on and challenge for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Conversely, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell thrived when provided with the opportunity to lock up Power Five wide receivers. His eventual draft status as a first-round pick and CB1 was helped tremendously by seeing the Toledo product not be overwhelmed when regularly facing SEC, Big Ten, etc. opposition.

Those types of situations are the most important during the events. Six specific prospects expected to attend these all-star festivities immediately came to mind as the most to gain during the upcoming week, with the Shrine Bowl set to be played on Thursday, Jan. 30, while the Senior Bowl takes place on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Senior Bowl: QB Jalen Milroe

An all-star game's setup can be difficult on a quarterback. They're thrust into a situation where they must learn a new playbook in a matter of days, while also dealing with all new coaches and passing targets. It's extremely difficult to build a rapport and rhythm over the period of a week.

Scouts don't care about perfection. They're looking for improvement. How does these high-profile prospects respond to coaching? Did they get better every day? Did they show improvement in areas of concern?

Alabama's Jalen Milroe will be the poster boy for each question based on his status entering the event.

The 2025 NFL draft class will be built around two quarterback prospects, Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. They're both expected to be selected among the event's top five picks. From there, the race for QB3 is wide open for anyone to claim.

Milroe is, by far, the best athlete athlete at the position. He also has a big arm. But his footwork, accuracy, and consistency are all significant question marks. If Milroe goes to Mobile and shows improvement in all three areas, he could quickly be the class' third quarterback and a legitimate first-round possibility.

Potential NFL Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants

Shrine Bowl: QB Kyle McCord

Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is scheduled to be at the Shrine Bowl. Whether he actually participates during practices and/or the game has yet to be seen. Either way, he'll be a barometer for the other quarterbacks at the event.

With Sanders expected to be a top-five draft pick (and possibly even No. 1 overall), he will demand the most attention. Another quarterback with a strong week of practice and game performance can open eyes, much like Syracuse's Kyle McCord did during the 2024 regular season.

McCord led the Ohio State Buckeyes to an 11-1 record during the '23 campaign but quickly became the scapegoat with the program's loss to the archrival Michigan Wolverines. McCord transferred to the Orange's program for his senior season and played well.

In fact, McCord led the FBS with 4,779 passing yards. He also set a career-high with 34 passing touchdowns (37 total). He needs to build on that progression and show he can lead a major program, or franchise in this case.

If Sanders practices, McCord can go throw-for-throw with him. If not, the second-team All-ACC honoree could easily be the best quarterback at the Shrine Game and let scouts know he has starting quarterback potential for the next level.

Potential NFL Fit: New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams

Senior Bowl: Edge Shemar Stewart

As the saying goes, "Potential just means you haven't done it yet."

Case in point, Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is a ball of unlocked potential that can be seemingly unleashed at a moment's notice. Stewart is a 6'6", 285-pound defensive end with explosive traits, who can play up and down the line of scrimmage. He's far from a finished product, though.

In three seasons with the Aggies, Stewart notched 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He's far more in line with the likes of Travon Walker and Odafe Oweh, whose draft statuses were based purely on projection, than a dominant and elite physical marvel like Myles Garrett.

What makes his appearance at the Senior Bowl so intriguing is that the event is set up for talent of Stewart's caliber to shine. The practice week is often geared toward defensive linemen to win matchups, particularly each day's highly anticipated one-on-one pass-rush drills.

The game itself is simplified, which allows a defensive lineman to pin his ears back and make people take notice.

Stewart has the size, length, athleticism, and juice to emerge from his week in Mobile as a premium draft pick, even though his tape didn't necessarily suggest that he belonged in that range.

Potential NFL Fit: Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals

Shrine Bowl: WR Nick Nash

The nation's most productive wide receiver didn't play at a pipeline program. He didn't even play in a Power Four conference. Instead, Nick Nash put up huge numbers with the San Jose State Spartans.

For certain prospects, the level of competition they'll face at the all-star games is the most important part of the evaluation.

Nash led all wide receivers this season with 104 receptions, 1,382 receiving yards and 16 touchdown catches. Clearly, he has the numbers to be considered an early-round prospect.

However, he played in a run 'n shoot offensive scheme, without high-level competition. To be fair, the Spartans did face two-ranked opponents. Against the Boise State Broncos, Nash caught nine passes for 126 yards. Against the UNLV Rebels, the unanimous All-American caught only one pass.

Comparatively, Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who actually led the nation in both receptions and receiving yardage, played at his very best against the Penn State Nittany Lions and Texas A&M Aggies.

The Shrine Bowl provides the chance to prove that Nash can A) consistently separate, B) line up at any receiver spot and produce and C) do these things against a group of defensive backs at an event that features 22 Power Four prospects on the roster.

Potential NFL Fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns

Senior Bowl: OT Armand Membou

The Senior Bowl should help dramatically determine the status of OT1 for the 2025 class.

LSU's Will Campbell is viewed as the incoming crop's top blocker, though he's not attending either all-star game. Furthermore, he may be graded as a guard, as is the case with the Bleacher Report Scouting Department.

From there, Missouri's Armand Membou, Oregon's Josh Conerly Jr. and even Minnesota's Aireontae Ersery will have an opportunity to be on the field at the same time for scouts to size them up and compare performances at this year's Senior Bowl.

Of the three, Membou has more to gain despite already being B/R's top-ranked tackle, because his standing remains tenuous.

Technically, Ohio State's Josh Simmons would own the designation if his season wasn't cut short by a knee injury.

Despite being the current clubhouse leader, Membou is a 20-year-old underclassman, with only one career start at left tackle. He's spent most of his career at right tackle, whereas Conerly is a natural left tackle. Membou will almost certainly get an opportunity to play both in Mobile, with the potential to provide a team with options. Guard may even come into play depending on how his week goes.

Potential NFL Fit: Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers

Shrine Bowl: S Shilo Sanders

Shilo Sanders is the less-heralded brother among the the famous family's incoming crop of NFL talent. The Shrine Game can provide him with a chance to prove himself beyond the shadow of his father and younger sibling.

Yes, Shedeur Sanders will also be in attendance at the same all-star festivities. But an NFL team isn't going to base a draft evaluation on the two as a package deal. The older Sanders will still be under a microscope, though what he is trying to achieve is very different.

Shedeur Sanders is a future first-round draft pick, as someone who will be viewed as the face of a franchise. Shilo Sanders, meanwhile, will be fighting to prove he's capable of playing at the highest level.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Report's current grade on the safety prospect is the equivalent of him being a future seventh-round draft selection or even undrafted free agent. Sanders is far too undiciplined on the field. He's often seen taking poor angles or making bad decisions, which hurts the back end of the defense.

A strong week where the soon-to-be 25-year old plays under control and displays better balls skills, especially with the spotlight on his family all week, and he can work himself into a draftable option.

Potential NFL Fit: Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills