For the New Orleans Saints, a new season often starts in Mobile, Ala. The annual Panini Senior Bowl has become more than just a scouting event — it's a proven talent pipeline that has shaped the modern identity of the franchise.

The proof is in the roster, both past and present. Tight end Jimmy Graham (2010, third-round pick), edge rusher Cameron Jordan (2011, first round), left tackle Terron Armstead (2013, third round), center Erik McCoy (2019, second round), cornerback Alontae Taylor (2022, second round), right tackle Taliese Fuaga (2024, first round) and quarterback Tyler Shough (2025, second round) are among the players that were drafted by New Orleans after playing in the Senior Bowl.

Senior Bowl practices this year will take place Jan. 27-29, and the game will be played Jan. 31 at Hancock Whitney Stadium, on the campus of the University of South Alabama.

The experience generally proves as valuable for the players as for the franchise, and several have been recognized for their participation and performances. Both Jordan and Armstead are members of the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame, while Graham is a member of the 75^th Anniversary Team.

"I didn't originally get invited to the Senior Bowl," said Armstead, a Saint from 2013-21 who was an All-Pro in 2018 and three-time Pro Bowler in New Orleans. "I was in the East-West Shrine Game (played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.) and about a week after playing in the East-West Shrine Game, I got invited to the Senior Bowl.

"So I drove from Pensacola, where I was training, over to the Senior Bowl. And it was extremely influential, and I would say monumental, for me in my process to get drafted. Because my big question was, Can I play against the top-level competition? Once I got to the Senior Bowl, I saw the guys from Georgia, LSU, Alabama... and I was able to answer a lot of those questions."

Armstead, who starred at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, started the last 91 games he played as a Saint. He had no idea, from his Senior Bowl experience, that the franchise was interested.

"I didn't have any conversation with the Saints at the Senior Bowl," he said. "I had one visit to the Saints, and it was a group visit so it was, like, 20 players or so. And I didn't feel like those guys were interested in me at all. I had a meeting with the O-line coach for about an hour, I shook hands with (Coach) Sean Payton – literally, 30 seconds – and that was it. So, I didn't think I was on the Saints' radar at all."

Turns out, New Orleans saw all it needed to see despite an abbreviated week in which Armstead missed team meetings, practices and meetings with coaches due to the late invitation. He said he had one real practice, then played in the Senior Bowl.

"Just looking back at the process and how everything played out, I know for a fact that the Senior Bowl was huge for me, being a small-school guy," said Armstead, said.

"I'm forever grateful. The Senior Bowl is great. Played a huge part in my career and me being drafted. I strongly believe that, so I'm an advocate for them."

Additionally this year, five Saints coaches headline the American team staff: Running backs coach Joel Thomas (head coach), linebackers coach Peter Sirmon (defensive coordinator), quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien (offensive coordinator), assistant special teams coordinator Kyle Wilber (special teams coordinator) and defensive assistant Robert Blanton (defensive backs) will gain a level of access that will be helpful to the franchise during this year's draft process.

"We continue to use the Senior Bowl as a very valuable and significant resource throughout our college evaluation process," said Saints Senior Vice President/Assistant General Manager-College Personnel Jeff Ireland. "This year we are excited to have five coaches coaching the American team. These coaches will have hands-on experience with these players, which has proven to be invaluable additional information to our evaluations. We are excited to be in Mobile for the week and seeing all this unfold."