The New Orleans Saints don't have a lot of pieces as they close in on the end of the 2025 season, but the pieces they do have are starting to show elite potential.
For the second consecutive week rookie Tyler Shough has generated more than 200 passing yards between star WR Chris Olave and TE Juwan Johnson in a winning effort, and the performances have the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert brimming with optimism about the future.
"They’re getting better and better, that being Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson to complement Tyler Shough, maybe the quarterback might have something to do with that, working together in a tandem," Hebert said. "You know, you’ve got to have that connection between receiver, quarterback … and all that and I think we have like a three-headed monster I think, truly, with Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and Tyler Shough.”
Hear Bobby Hebert's full postgame rant in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
It was again Olave hauling in a key second half touchdown pass to jumpstart a sluggish Saints offense in what ended as a 34-26 Saints win and their first four-game win streak since Drew Brees was starting at quarterback. Shough went off for his second-consecutive 300-yard passing performance, and the rookie has put the league on notice despite not starting his first game until Week 9.
Johnson, who had issues with drops earlier this season, has now caught 20 of his past 21 targets, serving as a critical safety valve option for the young QB.
Over that streak Shough, the No. 40 overall pick in this year's draft, has completed 71% of his passes for 957 yards and he's accounted for six touchdowns against just one turnover. He also led back-to-back game-winning drives against the NFC South rival Bucs and Panthers.
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"If Tyler Shough plays well against Atlanta he’s the NFL rookie of the year," Hebert continued. "I don’t care what the Saints record is, how can you not give it to him. ... The Saints got the right quarterback in Tyler Shough. Now we’ve just got to get the best players around him, I truly believe that’s the case.”
The Saints will next be in action when they travel to Atlanta to close out their 2025 season against the Falcons (6-9). Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.