The New Orleans Saints have a long history of drafting players they scouted at the Senior Bowl.
Last year’s haul included quarterback Tyler Shough, cornerback Quincy Riley, running back Devin Neal and tight end Moliki Matavao. The year before that yielded tackle Taliese Fuaga, quarterback Spencer Rattler and linebacker Jaylan Ford. New Orleans’ classes in 2023 and 2022 also netted several Senior Bowl participants.
So, chances are, the Saints will dip back into the well again this year — which makes this week of Senior Bowl practices all the more important.
Here are four Saints-related Senior Bowl questions as practices for the all-star outing that begins Tuesday in Mobile, Alabama:
What advantage will coaching the American team provide?
Kellen Moore’s coaching staff is well represented in Mobile, with running backs coach Joel Thomas serving as the head coach of the American Team and several other assistants taking up other important roles. That will allow Thomas and Co. to get an up-close look at an intriguing group of prospects that includes Florida defensive tackle Carl Banks, Ohio State cornerback Davinson Igbinosun and USC wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane. Of that trio, Banks is seen as a potential first-rounder, though New Orleans doesn’t have a strong need at that position. Igbinosun, a 6-foot-2, 193-pound corner, could be an interesting Day 2 option if Alontae Taylor leaves in free agency, while Lane — a 6-foot-4 jump-ball-catching specialist — would give the Saints a shiny new red-zone target. Regardless, the Saints are coming off their best draft class in years and getting a detailed look at an entire team of prospects should only help their evaluations for this year.
Which skill players will emerge as potential targets for Tyler Shough?
The Saints are projected to have eight draft picks in April when factoring in the compensatory pick they likely will receive for Paulson Adebo’s departure in free agency last spring. That gives them ample opportunity to find a set of playmakers to help quarterback Tyler Shough, who’s coming off an electric rookie season. The Senior Bowl won’t have regarded prospects such as Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, but there are opportunities for others to boost their stock. Specifically, several draft analysts have remarked that there isn’t a clear-cut “RB2” in this year’s draft behind Love. Perhaps that opens the door for someone like Penn State running back Nick Singleton or Washington running back Jonah Coleman. At wide receiver, ESPN named Missouri’s Kevin Coleman (5-foot-11, 174 pounds) as a potential sleeper. ‘
How good is this defensive line class?
Unfortunately, Miami’s Rueben Bain and Texas Tech’s David Bailey are no longer expected to attend the Senior Bowl after previously committing to it. But despite the lack of star power, this year’s defensive line class is arguably the deepest position in the draft. The Saints could use another edge rusher, even though Chase Young and Cam Jordan each recorded double-digit sacks in 2025. Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, Clemson’s T.J. Parker and Alabama’s LT Overton are among those still worth watching in Mobile.
Will any other Saints news break?
Unlike last year, the Saints don’t have to worry about conducting a head coaching search during Senior Bowl week. The year before that, New Orleans was in the midst of an offensive coordinator search. Despite no large issue overshadowing this year’s event, there are still several unanswered questions surrounding this offseason. Will the Saints bring back Demario Davis and Cam Jordan? Will Taysom Hill retire? How aggressive will the Saints be in free agency? This week won’t provide all those answers, but with teams gathering in Mobile, there could be enough exchanging of information for the rumor mill to churn.