The New Orleans Saints will be heavily invested during the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL next week. They’ve shown an affinity for these prospects recently but have taken it to a new level in 2026. The Saints have seven coaches on the Senior Bowl staff, no other team has above four. Fans should pay close attention to the event as several players may join their roster during the NFL Draft.
The Saints have selected at least two players from the Senior Bowl each year since 2020, including four from last year's game. If a player does well in Mobile, he will likely be an option for Mickey Loomis. They have taken two of the last three MVP’s of the game and obviously put lots of stock into the game/practices.
Historically, the Saints have done well with these prospects. They’ve selected the likes of Cam Jordan, Terron Armstead, and Jimmy Graham. This was echoed last year, when they picked Tyler Shough, Quincy Riley, Jonas Sanker, and Devin Neal from the event.
The Saints will have 7 sets of eyes watching the prospects at the Senior Bowl
The Saints have coaches represented all over the field. While Joel Thomas leads as head coach, the Saints also account for all three coordinator roles. The list doesn't stop there either.
All of the Saints coaching staff is working with the American Team. Here are the coaches participating and their roles. Their job in New Orleans is also included in parentheses.
Joel Thomas- Head Coach (Associate Head Coach/Running Back Coach)
Peter Sirmon- Defensive Coordinator (Linebackers Coach)
Scott Tolzien- Offensive Coordinator (Quarterbacks Coach)
Kyle Wilber- Special Teams Coordinator (Assistant Special Teams Coach)
Robert Blanton- Defensive Backs Coach (Assistant Defensive Backs Coach)
Ziad Qubti- Football Operations (College Scouting Coordinator)
Mike Martinez- Football Operations (Assistant to the Head Coach)
The Saints will easily outnumber all other teams in Mobile. The Philadelphia Eagles are the closest with four staff members. This will give the Saints an edge while scouting and allow them to fully evaluate a number of prospects with a hands on approach.
While film is great, getting the opportunity to see how prospects respond to your coaching can't be overstated. This opportunity is invaluable as the Saints navigate their rebuild. A haul of impactful Senior Bowl prospects would elevate the Saints to potentially a playoff team next season.