Saints QB Tyler Shough drops hint about draft target — wants WR help now
New Orleans Saints second-year quarterback Tyler Shough publicly signalled his desire for wide receiver reinforcements ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, with at least two prospects already lobbying to play alongside him in New Orleans.
- Shough confirmed he has studied film on top WR prospects and wants the Saints to add a playmaker in this week’s draft.
- Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Louisville’s Chris Bell have both expressed public desire to play with Shough in New Orleans.
- The Saints hold the eighth overall pick and are strongly linked to addressing wide receiver in round one.
- Shough finished his rookie campaign with 2,384 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for December/January.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Zurich Classic Celebrity Shootout at TPC Louisiana in Avondale on Tuesday, Shough made clear he has done his homework on the position ahead of Thursday’s opening round — even if the final call belongs to the front office.
Shough has watched ‘almost all their film’
The Saints hold the No. 8 overall pick and have been linked by NBC Sports to a handful of top wide receiver prospects, including Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, and USC’s Makai Lemon. The franchise has also reportedly hosted Louisville’s Chris Bell and Georgia State’s Ted Hurst on individual top-30 visits.
“I’ve watched almost all their film from college, and just out of curiosity, I think all those guys have had elite-level play. There’s a lot of talent balance.”
Shough also spoke directly to the prospect interest in playing with him, acknowledging comments from Tate and Bell while insisting the team still has plenty of growth ahead.
“To get that recognition from some of those guys that are obviously really good players, elite-level talent, it’s an honor. But knowing that, we have so much more to grow. So obviously, I want to keep doing everything I can and to get some of those guys would be really good.”
Carnell Tate and Chris Bell both want in
The mutual interest between Shough and draft prospects is now well established. Carnell Tate, the 6-foot-3 Ohio State wideout who is widely projected as a top-10 selection, has stated multiple times that New Orleans is an attractive landing spot — specifically because of Shough.
During an appearance on the Downs 2 Business podcast, hosted by Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Tate made his preference clear. Shough returned the compliment. According to ClutchPoints, Shough said of a potential pairing with Tate: “We can definitely add a playmaker like him. You can’t go wrong there.”
Bell’s case is even more direct. The Louisville wideout — Shough’s former college teammate who is recovering from a torn ACL — told reporters at his pro day that Shough had been actively pushing his name to team staff. “He told me that he wants me so bad that he’s been pushing my name,” Bell said, according to Who Dat Dish. Bell’s rising draft stock, however, has attracted interest from the Bills, Browns, and Eagles, which could complicate New Orleans’ pursuit.
Why this matters: Shough is the reason saints are appealing again
This story is about more than one quarterback’s wishlist. Shough’s emergence last season — he led all rookie quarterbacks in completion percentage, passer rating, third-down passer rating, and rushing touchdowns — transformed New Orleans from a franchise in disarray into a genuine destination for top prospects.
A year ago, the Saints were 1–7 and cycling through quarterback options after Derek Carr’s retirement. Today, Shough is the confirmed starter under head coach Kellen Moore, and blue-chip receivers are publicly campaigning to catch his passes.
Wide receiver is the most frequently mocked position for New Orleans at pick eight, according to the Saints’ own official draft tracker, with Carnell Tate topping the consensus board of 82 mock drafts tracked between April 13 and April 19. ESPN’s Katherine Terrell also selected Tate as her pick for New Orleans in the network’s NFL Nation first-round mock.
Shough building chemistry before draft even begins
Beyond his comments, Shough has backed up his desire for WR help with action. He organised a workout session at Tulane earlier this week that included tight ends Juwan Johnson and Moliki Matavao, and wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk, Bub Means, and Kevin Austin Jr., according to a post by reporter Jon Sokoloff on X. Shough said the group has not “missed a beat” this offseason.
General manager Mickey Loomis, speaking about Shough’s overall development, urged patience while acknowledging the building blocks are in place. “We have to remember that he hasn’t had 17 starts yet,” Loomis said, per Bleacher Report. “We’ve got to keep that in mind as we go forward. There are building blocks here and we cannot skip any steps.”
The 2026 NFL Draft gets under way Thursday, April 24. The Saints pick eighth overall.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed April 22, 2026.
