The New Orleans Saints are already digging into the 2027 draft picture, and Houston has now joined the list of college stops on their preseason scouting tour.
According to Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle, Saints personnel were among two NFL teams at a recent Houston Cougars practice. The Indianapolis Colts, who share Super Bowl XLIV history with New Orleans, were the other club in attendance.
Houston has produced some intriguing prospects in recent years, and the 2027 class already has three names drawing the most attention: wide receiver Amare Thomas, quarterback Conner Weigman, and running back Makhi Hughes.
For Saints fans, though, Houston brings back a mixed bag. First-round pick Payton Turner never found steady footing in New Orleans because of injuries, and the school’s recent draft track record has been stronger elsewhere. Since then, nine Houston players have heard their names called in the NFL Draft, including four top-100 selections:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DE Logan Hall, pick No. 33 in 2022
New England Patriots, CB Marcus Jones, pick No. 85 in 2022
Houston Texans, WR Tank Dell, pick No. 69 in 2023
Miami Dolphins, OL Patrick Paul, pick No. 55 in 2024
Houston did not have a player selected in 2025, but in 2026 it had one: tight end Tanner Koziol, a fifth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Saints had already been spotted at at least three fall camps earlier in August, and Houston makes it four as they continue to do their homework well ahead of the 2027 offseason.
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Former Saints Signee Is Suddenly Caught In College Football's New Fight
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It is a situation shaped by a pair of recent cases in which DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris, after signing NFL contracts and later being waived, sought to get back on the field and were granted temporary restraining orders to pursue a fifth season. The new conference rules now complicate those efforts, and the debate has drawn comments from Lions coach Dan Campbell and several players who have weighed in on how hard it can be for a player to reset after a brief taste of the pro level. [Read more 🡒]