Saints QB Tyler Shough draws bold comparison for rookie Jordyn Tyson

The Saints used the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to make sure he had more help this season, and to hear QB Tyler Shough talk, they may have hit the jackpot.

Here's what Shough said about talented wideout Jordyn Tyson on a recent episode of the Green Light Podcast with Chris Long.

Shough compares Tyson to Olave

Shough began by describing how Olave's combination of speed and precise route-running makes him so special, before turning his attention to the rookie.

Tyson, Shough said, is "a carbon copy" of Olave, "when it comes to that feel with these underneath routes and big playability."

Talent aside, Tyson's mindset and attention to detail have already stood out. "He cares about it so much," Shough said. "I don't think he's messed up a rep."

Shough and Tyson's shared setbacks

Shough sees the same edge in Tyson that he's described in himself, a player who doesn't let setbacks change how he goes about his business.

"He's going to get open in the most crazy way," Shough said, "but he's also kind of got this grittiness to him that I feel like not a lot of people give him credit for."

"I had some connections at Arizona State who said great things about him and his journey," he said.

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"He had been injured quite a few times," Shough continued. "We've both broken collarbones. He's had a knee, you know; he was battling kind of a hammy there at the end of the year.

"And that was kind of the story of me coming out of the draft was I had some injuries in the past, and I was like, man, screw this. I'm just going to go out there and be myself.

"I feel like that's the best part about him. Getting to know him is that he's just one of one person, and you know, obviously kind of getting to work with him in camp as we kind of continue to go forward is going to be even more exciting."

Saints' outlook in 2026

Head coach Kellen Moore takes all of this into year two off the back of a four-wins-in-five-games finish that changed the entire outlook for this roster.

Shough's growth, Olave's week-to-week consistency and Tyson's ceiling are the headline reasons why, but Juwan Johnson remains a reliable option at tight end, and running back Travis Etienne Jr. arrived this offseason to add more punch up front.

Only two wins separated the division-leading Panthers from the Saints in fourth place last season, and with Shough finishing strong and Tyson now added to the mix, Saints fans are already dreaming of the playoffs.