The COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting the daily lives of Americans and the NFL’s day-to-day operations haven’t been spared.
The draft process for both prospects and franchises will once again be different due to the coronavirus. Teams will still get a chance to evaluate prospects in person, this cycle, starting with the Reese’s Senior Bowl which began practice Tuesday.
Some to the 2021 draft class’ top prospects will participate in showcase for scouts from all 32 NFL teams including the New Orleans Saints. The Senior Bowl has helped put players like tight end Adam Trautman, who impressed at last year's game, on the Saints' radar in the past.
Here’s three things Saints fans should keep an eye on during this week’s Senior Bowl:
Which linebackers standout?
Both WWL’s Zach Strief and Deuce McAllister mentioned linebacker as a position the Saints should look at in the Draft. Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone is a free agent and Kwon Alexander is recovering from a season ending injury potentially making what was a deep position group for the Saints in 2020, a thin one heading in to this season.
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The Senior Bowl rosters feature some of the top prospects at linebacker in this draft class including LSU’s Jabril Cox, North Carolina’s Chazz Surratt, West Virginia’s Tony Fields II and Georgia’s Monty Rice to name a few.
The Saints drafted linebacker Zach Baun in the third round fo the 2020 NFL Draft and the rookie played mostly on special teams last season. Baun showed promise with his limited defensive snaps but New Orleans has not shied away from using the draft to build depth and bring in quality players.
Which quarterbacks impress?
The Saints currently only have one quarterback committed for the 2021 season, Taysom Hill. Backup Jameis Winston is set to become a free agent and Drew Brees hasn’t announced whether or not he intends to retire, although there have been multiple reports that this was his final season.
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Saints coach Sean Payton said last week that the franchise was impressed with Winston and implied they’d like to have him back next season. He also said that the team would due diligence on the passers in this draft class.
Saints scouts will get and in person look at some of the top QBs available as six of ESPN’s Top 15 prospects at the position are participating in the Senior Bowl.
Wake Forest’s Jamie Newman, Texas’ Sam Ehlinger, Alabama’s Mac Jones, Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond, Notre Dame’s Ian Book and Arkansas’ Feleipe Franks will all be in front of Saints scouts this week and, with uncertainty at the position, will likely get close looks from the franchise.
The defensive backs
Last year was the first since Sean Payton has been the Saints head coach that the franchise did not draft a defensive back. New Orleans is consistently looking for quality players in the secondary and with safety Marcus Williams set to become a free agent, there could be a need at the position come draft time.
Some of the top safeties in this class, like Pittsburgh’s Damar Hamlin, Florida’s Shawn Davis and LSU’s Jacoby Stevens, are playing and will give Saints scouts plenty to look at.