Michael Thomas. Marshon Lattimore. Chris Olave. Vonn Bell.
Apparently the Ohio State to New Orleans pipeline goes deeper than the Saints’ affinity for drafting Buckeyes. If Carnell Tate’s recent comments and Caleb Downs’ conversation with Tyler Shough is any indication, the Buckeyes started wanting to be Saints somewhere along the way.
Carnell Tate has went out the way to make it clear Tyler Shough is a quarterback he would like to play for. The Buckeye was asked the question of who he’d like to catch passes from twice, both times he said Shough. Of the quarterbacks Tate has listed, Shough and the Saints have the highest pick. It’s not just about being drafted the highest, either. Otherwise, Tate would have als mention Jaxson Dart or Cam Ward.
Downs isn’t as outward as Tate, but it’s safe to say he, at the worst, wouldn’t oppose the idea. During Shough’s appearance on Downs 2 Business, it was revealed the Downs brothers grew up as Saints fans. Who doesn’t want to play for their childhood team?
Caleb Downs was a Saints fans against all odds
Josh Downs seemed to be the more passionate of the brothers in his fandom. He retold a story of being at his high school banquet when the Minneapolis Miracle happened. Throwing objects and getting mad at players. Sounds like every fan of every team.
More calm in his account, Caleb Downs says people still get mad at him when he tells them he grew up a Saints fan. To make his answer even better, he started with “not the Falcons.” He’ll fit right in.
That’s what actually makes the story unique. The brothers grew up in Atlanta. Not only did they not root for the hometown team, they rolled with their hated rival. That’s serious fandom.
Downs might not be at Travis Etienne’s level of excitement, but it’s hard to imagine the safety not being excited about the ability to play for his childhood team. It’s also a natural void and fit with Alontae Taylor leaving.
Free agency has shifted many Saints fans’ dream from Jeremiyah Love to Caleb Downs. We now have motive for the latter to hope he falls to 8 as well. Downs to New Orleans makes too much sense. Olave was the last Buckeye the Saints drafted. They could break the streak this year with Downs. Like Shough said, “you can’t go wrong with Ohio State.”