CB TJ Hall hoping versatility helps him stick with Saints

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints didn’t originally have a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But one came back to them as a part of their trade with the Las Vegas Raiders to acquire edge rusher Tyree Wilson, 

Even though the Saints didn’t go into the draft with that selection, No. 219 overall, when they were on the clock to make the pick, Iowa cornerback TJ Hall made it an easy decision for New Orleans. 

“You get that pick, and then all of a sudden, here’s a player that we were considering at the bottom of the fifth round and the sixth round,” general manager Mickey Loomis said following the final day of the draft. “He’s still there, so it was kind of like a no-brainer pick for us.”

It’s not hard to see what put the Iowa product on the Saints’ radar. 

Hall, a 6-foot and 189-pound physical cornerback, had 11 passes defended last year and a missed tackle percentage of just 5.4%. He says his physicality is a hallmark of his game. 

“I would definitely say that’s a big part,” Hall said in his introductory Zoom call with the local media. “I feel like I’m a competitor. I bring that physicality not only in the run game but with the receivers. Pressing at the line, getting hands-on. Just being a physical player overall.”

The other area of his game that Hall most highlighted was his versatility. His high football IQ and solid tackling ability make him a potential fit both inside and outside on a defensive secondary. He feels that has what it takes to go even further beyond that. 

“I feel like I can fit anywhere,” he said. “I feel like I can play all five positions in the backfield. If I need to line up at corner, nickel or safety, I feel like I can be ready to go for either one.”

Hall has experience as both a receiver and quarterback in his past, giving him a holistic understanding of the game. His positional flexibility in the league will, of course, be limited to the defense. But all of the knowledge translates. 

“It helps me a lot,” Hall said of his previous experience. “Understanding what quarterbacks and receivers like to do, what they like to show. I feel like I use that for my game on the defensive side. Picking up cues and stuff that some key that might not play both ways might not get all the time.”