Senior Bowl: Targets to Watch for the Saints

Potential draft targets for the Saints to keep an eye on during the week in Mobile at the Reese's Senior Bowl.

Author:
John Hendrix
Publish date:
Jan 31, 2023 7:58 AM EST

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The Senior Bowl is in full swing. All. The Saints have been no stranger to finding talent from this event that showcases some of the best college has to offer for the upcoming draft. One of the things that's really appreciated ahead of the week is that executive director Jim Nagy tweeted out that every team will be meeting with all 125 players this week, so we don't have to act like these are exclusive.

Overall, there's a few more positions to pay closer attention to than others. New Orleans has several big needs going into the offseason, something we've talked about previously. Here's a list of my favorite targets this week, which is not an exhaustive list, but focuses on some of the biggest needs the Saints have.

National Team

USATSI_19500478_168388561_lowres — Nov 25, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Roschon Johnson (2) runs for yards during the first half against the Baylor Bears at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Brown, RB, Illinois - The running back group might be the best the Senior Bowl has to offer this year. As for Brown, he's certainly a workhorse and fights hard for what he gets on the field. He was a huge part of the Illinois offense, as they leaned on him a great deal to move the ball.
Jaren Hall, QB, BYU - The Saints will get a very extended look at Hall with D.J. Williams coaching this group. He's hovering in Day 2 territory to get drafted, and a strong showing from the Senior Bowl will only help him out. The top-tier group of quarterbacks include Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Will Levis. Hall is an extremely interesting dual-threat quarterback.
Andre Carter II, LB/EDGE, Army - A very intriguing prospect, Carter's 6-foot-7, 260-pound frame is what stands out for starters. He set the single-season sack record for the Black Knights with 15.5, finishing behind Alabama's Will Anderson (17.5). As a prospect, he might seem a bit raw, but is going to become the highest-drafted Army player since 1947. Again, he's intriguing, and we've seen the Saints lean on players from smaller schools that haven't exactly panned out perfectly. Maybe the third time would be the charm?
Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas - Naturally, Bijan Robinson is going to command a ton of attention here when you talk about the Longhorns, but Johnson is someone who might benefit a ton from having more a featured role at the Senior Bowl. He has a lot of the tools to be a three-down back, featuring a good bit of quickness and vision. He was also a former quarterback that was put as a running back when Sam Ehlinger was there due to injuries at Texas. He was also heralded as a strong leader.

American Team

USATSI_19284002_168388561_lowres — Oct 22, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Byron Young (47) hits Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers (2) to force an incomplete pass at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-6. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane - There's some familiarity obviously for anyone that followed the Green Wave locally. He's hard to bring down and tortured USC's defense in their bowl game. He had 8 straight games of 120 rushing yards or better since Oct. 15. How he does this week will certainly pique a lot of interest.
Byron Young, DL/Edge, Alabama - The Saints are going to need to look at their defensive line, and Young checks a lot of boxes when it comes to stopping the run, something New Orleans was absolutely challenged in during the season. This week should give him an opportunity to put his pass-rushing skills on display. He has the potential to be a three-down player at the next level.
Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma - The speed and flash elements are two of the best things about Gray. He does a bit of everything, and if he gets out into the open field, he's going to to put on a good display of the quickness and elusiveness. His vision is strong, and is going to make an impact for whatever team gets him.
Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia - What stands out a lot for McIntosh is the pass-catching abilities he has. He's just dangerous. He has a ton of skill-sets to offer a team, which include a strong vision while running. The Bulldogs won back-to-back National Championships, and McIntosh is a huge reason why.

We're also paying attention to the wide receiver room. Houston's Nathaniel 'Tank' Dell had incredible production last season, while SMU's Rashee Rice and Iowa State's Xavier Hutchinson could be strong possession type of receivers the team has been missing. We'll have plenty from Mobile this week, so be sure to stay tuned to Saints News Network for more.