What players should the Saints keep a close eye on at the Senior Bowl?
It’s imperative that the New Orleans Saints add to their receiver room this offseason. It was viewed as a strength heading into the season, with Chris Olave headlining it, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, and Devaughn Vele as dynamic options behind him. Unfortunately for them, 2025 didn’t go well, outside of Olave. Shaheed and Cooks are both off the roster, while Vele showed flashes, but needs to be more consistent.
Because of this, the Saints need to be watching receivers closely during the pre-draft process. They will have a stellar opportunity for this during the 2026 Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. While there are numerous outstanding options they can select from, these three stand out as players they must keep their eye on.
Ted Hurst- Georgia State
Fans will see Georgia State and immediately dismiss Ted Hurst as an elite prospect; this couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s an exceptional deep threat who thrives against press coverage. Hurst has arguably the best release package in the draft and should translate to be a formidable X receiver in the NFL.
The main concern with Hurst is his inconsistent hands. He recorded seven drops in 2025 and has shown some concentration issues. On top of that, he’s not the most explosive player after the catch. Regardless, he’s an intriguing prospect who is expected to rise up draft boards in Mobile.
Brenen Thompson- Mississippi State
Brenen Thompson is the fastest player in college football and it isn’t a competition. The 5-foot-9, 170 pound receiver ran a 10.22 100 meter dash in high school. It may be a hot take, but don’t be surprised if Thompson breaks Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash record at the 2026 NFL Combine.
A common trap for receivers similar to Thompson is that they win purely with speed and struggle to run routes. This isn’t the case as he understands how to stem defenders and has a superb start/stop ability, which makes him a nightmare to defend. He sells the deep route well before throttling down and stopping on a dime. Mississippi State didn’t have him run an expansive route tree, however, he is capable of much more.
Lewis Bond- Boston College
Lewis Bond is one of college football’s best kept secrets. He was a bright spot on a dull Boston College team that went 2-10. Bond is the all-time leader in receptions for the Eagles and is coming off an impressive season with 88 receptions, 993 yards, and one touchdown.
Bond isn’t the most explosive receiver, but he is an amazing route runner. He’s got spectacular short area quickness and is extremely agile, which helps him create consistent separation. Additionally, Bond is a rapid accelerator and expertly uses tempo in his routes. He’s a reliable threat for the quarterback who is constantly open.
Bond’s name isn’t talked about right now, but will be a common name after the Senior Bowl. The Saints should keep an eye on him as a potential option on late day two.