Here's who stood out during the first day of Senior Bowl practice

MOBILE, Ala. — When the Broncos’ coaching staff worked the Senior Bowl three years ago, then-head coach Vance Joseph and his lieutenants coached the North team and got the two first-rounders at the position from that year’s game: Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen. Denver had a need at quarterback, while the Houston Texans, whose staff helmed the South team, already had Deshaun Watson. Thus, the Broncos got the upper hand at that position.

Fast-forward three years to Tuesday. Senior Bowl practices now take place at a venue that didn’t exist three years ago, the gleaming new Hancock-Whitney Stadium on the University of South Alabama campus.

And the best three quarterbacks here are all on one team.

Alabama’s Mac Jones, Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond and Wake Forest’s Jamie Newman slung passes for the American team. That squad is coached by Matt Rhule’s staff from the Carolina Panthers, who appear to be in the market for a young quarterback after a workmanlike season from six-year veteran Teddy Bridgewater.

The best of the trio Tuesday was not Jones, projected as a first-rounder by many. Instead, Newman stole the show with the strongest arm, which he used to dominate the one-on-one and seven-on-seven periods with accurate deep strikes that were thrown on a rope.

When Newman fired these fastballs, he didn’t appear stained. These passes were what some old-school baseball types would refer to as “easy cheese,” an effortless, quick motion that didn’t show any hint of strain.

It was a bit different for Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond, who did not have the spectacular flashes that Newman displayed. But Mond displayed good feel for the pass rush. Late in the two-hour practice, with rain pelting the field, he escaped the collapsing pocket, kept his eyes downfield and delivered a strike to Bowling Green tight end Quintin Morris threading the needle despite double coverage on Morris.

A few other notes from the practices:

Perhaps the most surprising wide receiver on hand Tuesday was Tennessee’s Josh Palmer, who dominated during one-on-one drills, catching an array of passes.

My favorite moment from him was on a quick out pattern during the one-on-one period. Georgia cornerback D.J. Daniel grabbed Palmer’s jersey by the shoulder for a clear holding penalty, but Palmer but still made the catch of a pass near the sideline as he tumbled to the ground.

Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney and Clemson wide receiver Amari Rodgers also had strong days. Rodgers had one of the better catches of the day, adjusting to haul in this deep pass despite tight coverage from Florida safety Shawn Davis. South Carolina’s Shi Smith also had a spectacular catch, coming down with this deep reception up the right sideline in the one-on-one period:

Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby doesn’t have the same buzz as other recent receivers from his school such as 2019 first-rounder N’Keal Harry of New England and 2020 Round 1 pick Brandon Aiyuk, who led the 49ers in receptions, receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns last year.

But he did emerge as the standout receiver from the National team’s practice, displaying outstanding body control and a good ability to adjust to deep passes in flight.

North Carolina running back Michael Carter is small in stature at 5-foot-7, but at 202 pounds carries enough weight on his frame to be able to absorb a pounding. But what was most impressive about him — beyond his tree-trunk thighs, which he was more than happy to show off with short shorts Tuesday — was his ability to read holes as they developed, cut back and decisively sprint upfield, displaying the classic one-cut-and-go technique that has worked well for Broncos running backs since time immemorial.

Carter averaged 8.0 yards per carry and 10.7 yards per reception last year for the Tar Heels. His work Tuesday showed that he is more than just a product of being in an offense with a prodigious prime pro prospect at quarterback in potential 2022 first-round pick Sam Howell.

Grambling State offensive lineman David Moore (6-foot-1, 350 pounds) is one of the players dealing with a significant level jump and the rust of not playing last season, as the FCS Tigers punted the start of their season until Feb. 27.

During a team-drill portion of the American team practice, he allowed Mississippi State RB Kylin Hill to burst for a solid gain by successfully blocking two defensive linemen at once, holding off Houston’s Payton Turner and Baylor’s William Bradley-King.

On the National team, North Dakota State’s Dillon Radunz (6-foot-5, 304 pounds) also showed no ill effects from having his senior season blown up by COVID-19. He flourished in nine-on-seven and team periods, often blowing his man downfield on run plays. Radunz worked at both guard and tackle Tuesday.