The road to the New Orleans Saints’ NFL Draft will once again run through Mobile, Alabama. Because that’s where the annual Senior Bowl will be held…a place where the Saints have scouted plenty of their recent draft picks. But this year the New Orleans Saints have a massive leg up on the competition. While every other team is watching from the bleachers, Kellen Moore’s staff will be right in the middle of the huddle during the 2026 Senior Bowl.
This is a golden opportunity to see how these prospects handle pressure and coaching before the big lights of the Superdome come calling.
Saints Coaches Calling the Shots in Mobile
New Orleans Saints Associate Head Coach and running backs coach Joel Thomas has officially been named the Head Coach for the American Team at the Senior Bowl. He is not alone down there either, as several other Saints assistants, like Scott Tolzien and Peter Sirmon, are joining him on the staff to evaluate the next wave of talent.
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
The Saints having their own guys calling the plays and running the drills gives the front office an incredible advantage. They get to see the character and work ethic of these players in a way that a simple highlight reel, pro day, or the Combine just can’t capture.
Building on the Tyler Shough Success
The Saints have a long history of falling in love with players they see at the Senior Bowl, and it has certainly paid off lately. Just look at rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who was a standout at last year’s game before becoming a Second Round steal for New Orleans. But Shough isn’t the only player the Saints have found at the Senior Bowl. Names like Quincy Riley and Devin Neal who have made the jump from the Senior Bowl to the Saints roster.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Shough is probably the most important piece of the Saints puzzle right now, and his play last year is probably going dictate what the Saints are watching for at the Senior Bowl. Running backs and wide receivers will be getting some extra looks in Mobile this week.
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