2026 draft prospects get important advice from NFL rookies - ESPN

When Tyler Shough thinks back to the 2025 offseason leading to the NFL draft, he remembers not being «on anybody's radar.»

Shough endured an injury-filled college career, which lasted seven years and culminated with a solid season at Louisville. He ended up being the third quarterback drafted last year, going to the New Orleans Saints at No. 40 overall. He then played well enough to finish second to the Carolina Panthers' Tetairoa McMillan in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.

«Just don't listen to anything that anyone's saying [heading into the draft],» Shough told ESPN. «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."

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ESPN asked 36 NFL rookies to share their biggest piece of advice with 2026 draft prospects, who are gathered in Indianapolis for the annual combine. Here were some of the key pieces of advice, ranging from having a «no person» to being patient to — conversely — doing things at a «million miles per hour.»

As far as ignoring predraft analysts, that mindset wasn't difficult for Dallas Cowboys starting right guard Tyler Booker, in part because of what he had learned from his college coach.

«As [former Alabama] Coach [Nick] Saban would say, he would call that rat poison,» said Booker, the 12th overall pick. «So I don't even pay attention to that stuff.»

Here's what the aspiring rookies should pay