Warford "makes money" at Senior Bowl

For an NFL Draft prospect, the pre-draft festivities can do wonders for your draft stock -- or erase it completely. Some players have gone from presumed fourth-round picks to bonafide first-round picks after a great performance at the Senior Bowl or combine. Others, regrettably, have done the complete opposite. So far, though, Kentucky OG Larry Warford is making the best of his pre-draft experience. One of the best, most knowledgeable, college football analysts is Mike Mayock. Mayock has gushed over Warford's performance during the past week at the Senior Bowl and named him as one of the prospects that "made money". "Making money" is just another term for improving draft stock. In the NFL, draft stock can impact a prospect's financials more than any other professional sport. Let's take a look at the difference between being the 10th pick in last year's draft and the 20th pick:

Buffalo Bills first-round cornerback Stephon Gilmore has signed a four-year guaranteed contract worth roughly $12.084 million million.  The contract includes a $7.288 million signing bonus.

Gilmore, a South Carolina product, went into the NFL combine as a mid-to-late first-round prospect. After a great showing against some of the top receivers in the country, the Buffalo Bills decided to draft him with the tenth pick in the draft.  

The Tennessee Titans have agreed to a four-year deal with first-round draft pick Kendall Wright. The wide receiver's contract is worth $8.2 million and includes a $4.4 million signing bonus.

Wright had a sub-par showing at the NFL combine and his stock fell a little bit because of it. Projected as a mid-round pick (10-19 range), Wright fell to the Titans at 20 and lost millions. The difference between Gilmore and Wright contracts is about $4 million of base salary and $7 million in total salary.   What Warford did this week at the Senior Bowl not only helped his draft stock, but it also helped his bank account. Warford will be the first offensive lineman from Kentucky selected in the NFL Draft since 1993, and with a great combine, could be the first one picked in the first-round.