New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough went through all the ups and downs of the NFL Draft process.
He had a seven-year college career that was full of injury but also full of change. He spent three years with the Oregon Ducks, three years with the Texas Tech Red Raiders and finished things off with a super-super-senior season with the Louisville Cardinals.
A ton of hype was given to quarterbacks like Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in the 2025 NFL Draft. Shough was absolutely undervalued and undercovered by the media, but he ended up being the third quarterback selected behind Ward and Dart. The Saints ended up selecting him with the 40th overall pick.
Perhaps that’s why Shough’s advice to this upcoming 2026 NFL Draft class is to essentially tune everything out.
“Just don’t listen to anything that anyone’s saying [heading into the draft],” Shough told ESPN on Wednesday when asked what advice he would give to this upcoming group of rookies. “I remember when I got picked, there were probably a lot of people upset …
“I think all the guys coming out, just go through your process, be yourself throughout the whole draft process, be authentic to who you are about your journey, about your shortcomings, all that stuff. And I think it’s going to work out the way it’s supposed to.”
Tyler Shough gives great advice to 2026 NFL Draft class
Shough was seen as an “out of nowhere” pick as the draft was unfolding. Heck, Sanders was thought of by many as a top-five selection, and he ended up falling all the way down to pick No. 144.
In the end, though, the Saints may have found something in the former college journeyman quarterback. Shough finished his rookie season with 2,384 yards and 10 touchdowns compared to six interceptions in 11 games. Ultimately, he was second in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year votes to Carolina Panthers wideout Tetairoa McMillan.
Had Shough listened to the predraft projections or the post-draft consternation, perhaps he wouldn’t have had the confidence to go have the rookie season that he did. It’s great advice. Now, he needs to take a bit of his own advice as he moves into an all-important Year 2 in 2026.