Few teams have acquired as many players at the annual Senior Bowl as the New Orleans Saints, at least since Jeff Ireland was hired to overhaul their college scouting department. They’ve found multiple draft picks at the all-star event, ranging from Erik McCoy and Sheldon Rankins to Marcus Davenport and Stephone Anthony. Both of their third-round picks in 2020 (Zack Baun and Adam Trautman) were also scouted at the showcase game.
But the real value in the Senior Bowl for NFL teams lies in the daily practices and private interviews they can schedule with draft prospects. Adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic have forced the event to change things, and it’s unclear just how much the Saints will glean from a week of socially-distant scouting.