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QB coach Ronald Curry, wearing visor, listens in to Pete Carmichael's play calling during training camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Airline Drive in Metairie, Friday, July 30, 2021. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)

As the Senior Bowl’s motto so succinctly states, the NFL draft starts in Mobile, and that always seems to be especially true with the New Orleans Saints.

Last year, the Saints used three of their five draft selections on players who participated in the Senior Bowl in Alabama (Trevor Penning, Alontae Taylor and D’Marco Jackson), and they signed another as an undrafted free agent (Abram Smith).

The Saints currently are armed with six selections in the 2023 draft, and before the week is over they could have a few more in their pocket depending on what happens with former coach Sean Payton.

But it’s not just about the draft; this will be a busy week for the organization as a whole. Here are five things to keep in mind as the Senior Bowl practices unfold in Mobile.

Close and personal

The Senior Bowl revamped how it compiles its coaching roster this year. Historically, the two teams were coached by the full staffs of two NFL teams, but this year, the Senior Bowl adopted a “coach up” format in which young coaches from around the NFL spend the week in elevated roles.

The staffs will have a distinct New Orleans feel to them: Only the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders will have as many coaches working directly with the players as the Saints this year.

Four Saints assistants will be working directly with the players. On the National team, Ronald Curry will be the offensive coordinator and play-caller; D.J. Williams will coach quarterbacks; and Cory Robinson will coach safeties. Declan Doyle will coach tight ends for the American team.

Coaches are all around the Senior Bowl, usually watching from the sidelines or from the bleachers, but it is an advantage for the Saints staff to work directly with the players, both on the practice fields and in the meeting rooms.

QB quandary

Most can agree that there are three quarterbacks who are locks to be taken high in the draft’s first round — Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Kentucky’s Will Levis. A fourth, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, could also be gone within the first 15 or 20 picks.

At the moment, none of that really matters for the Saints. None of those players will be in Mobile, and New Orleans doesn’t own a first-round pick.

That said, the Saints are not exactly settled at the position. Andy Dalton is a free agent, and though Jameis Winston has a year remaining on his deal, it’s hard to envision him being in the club’s plans after the way the 2022 season unfolded.

There’s not a great track record for quarterbacks taken after the first round. In the last 20 drafts, 192 quarterbacks have been selected in the second round or later. Only 20 of them have started 20 or more games in their careers, and only five have made multiple Pro Bowls.

The odds of finding a franchise quarterback after the first round are incredibly low, but if New Orleans does decide to add to its quarterback room with one of its current selections, it should be able to gather plenty of intel this week.

New Orleans will get a close look at the likes of Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, TCU’s Max Duggan, Fresno State’s Jake Haener, Louisville’s Malik Cunningham, BYU’s Jaren Hall, Houston’s Clayton Tune and Shepherd University’s Tyson Bagent.

Meet and greet

This event is not just for draft preparations. At the present moment, New Orleans has two open spots on its coaching staff — coaching tight ends and defensive linemen — and co-defensive coordinator Kris Richard also has received some interest around the league.

With most of the NFL world descending upon Mobile, there will definitely be some chatter between coaches in back rooms and bars and restaurants as teams look to fill out their staffs. Outside of the NFL combine, this might be the closest thing the NFL has to a job fair.

Local flavor

Both LSU and Tulane have two representatives at the Senior Bowl, and at least four other players are originally from Louisiana.

The Tigers will be represented by defensive back Jay Ward and defensive lineman Ali Gaye, while the Green Wave will send linebacker Dorian Williams and running back Tyjae Spears.

Spears could be of particular interest to the Saints, who are expected to add some juice to their running back room this offseason. The Tulane product closed out a remarkable senior season (1,581 yards rushing, 19 touchdowns) with 201 yards and four touchdowns against Southern California in the Cotton Bowl.

Others with Louisiana ties include Nebraska receiver Trey Palmer (Kentwood High School, LSU), TCU receiver Derius Davis (West Feliciana High School), Virginia receiver Don’Tayvion Wicks (Plaquemine High School) and Florida offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence (St. Helena Central, UL).

A final, friendly reminder

Please heed this bit of advice from the Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy: Don’t get too caught up in reports that teams met with prospects this week.

“All 125 players will be meeting with all 32 NFL teams at (the Senior Bowl),” Nagy tweeted Monday morning. “Absolutely zero need for “Player X met with Team Z” posts.”

Got that, reporters?

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

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