Shough, 25, was within the 2018 high-school recruiting class, alongside present NFLers Trevor Lawrence, Micah Parsons and Amon-Ra St. Brown (h/t 247Sports).
He began his profession at Oregon (2018-20), the place he backed up Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s (2018-19) and began the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Shough transferred to Texas Tech (2021-23), the place he suffered three vital accidents, together with two damaged collarbones and a damaged fibula, that restricted him to fifteen video games. Final season, he transferred to Louisville and performed a career-high 12 video games whereas main the Cardinals to an 8-4 report.
It is a exceptional story of perseverance that should not get misplaced in any controversy over who he was chosen forward of.
Loser: Atlanta Falcons
Do the Falcons know one thing we do not? For a group that hasn’t made the postseason since 2017, Atlanta is spending future draft capital like a group assured a spot within the 2025 playoffs.
After inexplicably buying and selling a 2026 first-round decide to the Rams to amass a second 2025 first, which the Falcons used on edge-rusher James Pearce Jr., they dealt a 2026 fifth-rounder to the Eagles to maneuver up within the third and choose security Xavier Watts.
These strikes depart Atlanta with simply 5 picks within the 2026 draft, the identical quantity it had this 12 months. That may be OK for a perennial contender, however not for a group trying to reestablish itself within the NFC.
Winner: New England Patriots
The Patriots had been winners by addressing their largest wants, including to their offensive line with offensive deal with Will Campbell (No. 4 total) and middle Jared Wilson (No. 95 total) and giving quarterback Drake Maye extra weapons by selecting operating again TreVeyon Henderson (No. 38) and broad receiver Kyle Williams (No. 69 total).
On Day 3, New England focused its protection, choosing security Craig Woodson (No. 106 total) with its first decide, adopted by defensive deal with Joshua Farmer (No. 137 total) and edge-rusher Bradyn Swinson (No. 146 total).
Loser: Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold
Darnold obtained nearer to turning into 2025’s Kirk Cousins when the Seahawks nabbed Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe within the third spherical (No. 92 total). Like Cousins a season in the past, Darnold signed a profitable contract this offseason, solely to look at his new group choose a possible substitute a month later. In 2024, the Falcons adopted their Cousins signing by choosing quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8.
Darnold had a robust 2024 season with the Vikings, but when he takes a step again and extra carefully resembles the quarterback who could not hold the beginning job with the Jets and Panthers, the Seahawks would possibly have already got his substitute.
Winner: Georgia-to-Philadelphia pipeline
The Eagles revived the Georgia pipeline on Saturday, choosing Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. (No. 161 total). Because the first spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft, Philadelphia has selected six Georgia defenders, together with three in 2023, however none throughout final 12 months’s draft.
Defensive deal with Jalen Carter has been the perfect of the bunch, however every has carved out a priceless function, together with beginning linebackers Nakobe Dean and Nolan Smith, core particular teamer Kelee Ringo and rotational beginning lineman Jordan Davis.
Mondon may very well be the subsequent success story. Per SIS data, he is a top quality protection linebacker, permitting minus-3.8 anticipated factors added when focused in protection final season. Mondon can be a succesful pass-rusher, producing a 23 % strain price.
Loser: Cleveland Browns
The Browns had seven picks within the 2025 draft and used two on operating backs — Quinshon Judkins (No. 36 total), Dylan Sampson (No. 126 total) — and two others on quarterbacks — Dillon Gabriel (No. 94 total), Shedeur Sanders (No. 144 total).
That is a tragic misuse of draft sources for a group as unhealthy because the Browns. As a substitute of plugging a number of holes, they hardly crammed any.
Winner: New York Giants
We’re not bought on quarterback Jaxson Dart, however the Giants hit the proper notes with their different seven picks. Edge-rusher Abdul Carter was one of many consensus greatest gamers on this 12 months’s draft. Together with fourth-round decide defensive deal with Darius Alexander (No. 65 total), the Giants have constructed one of many league’s high defensive strains, which already included inside lineman Dexter Lawrence and edge Brian Burns.
On Day 3, the Giants chosen Arizona State operating again Cam Skattebo (No. 105 total) and Purdue offensive deal with Marcus Mbow (No. 154 total), two different gamers with starter potential.
Loser: Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero
As a substitute of investing closely in protection, Carolina gave Evero a can of Spam and a matchstick and mentioned, “Make a five-star meal.”
The Panthers had the league’s worst protection final season however spent their first-round decide on broad receiver Tetairoa McMillan. They ended up spending 4 of their eight picks on protection, however that may not be sufficient for a unit that wanted extra assist.
Winner: Ohio State
Ohio State’s 2024 championship group was acknowledged with 14 members — broad receiver Emeka Egbuka, guard Donovan Jackson, defensive tackles Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton, operating backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, edge-rushers J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, linebacker Cody Simon, security Lathan Ransom, cornerbacks Jordan Hancock and Denzel Burke and quarterback Will Howard — being chosen within the 2025 NFL Draft, tied with 2019 LSU and 2003 Ohio State for the second-most in draft history, and one behind 2021 Georgia for essentially the most.
The amount of draft picks speaks to the absurd stage of expertise on final 12 months’s roster and places them in a tier of most proficient groups in current historical past. Maybe extra importantly, the Buckeyes had yet one more participant chosen than their arch-nemesis, Michigan, had final season following its 2023 nationwide title.
Loser: Pittsburgh Steelers
So, Aaron Rodgers it’s.
The Steelers waited till Spherical 6 to pick out a quarterback (Howard), which inserts with proprietor Artwork Rooney II telling reporters on Friday that Rodgers “does wish to come right here.”
Pittsburgh missed alternatives so as to add arguably higher prospects this weekend because it settles for a 41-year-old quarterback previous his prime. It is a huge step again for the proud Steelers group. In some ways, they’re the league’s mannequin franchise. However this weekend, they gave groups an illustration of what to not do.
