NFL insider 'wouldn't put it against' Tyler Shough starting at QB for Saints in Week 1
NFL insider 'wouldn't put it against' Tyler Shough starting at QB for Saints in Week 1
The New Orleans Saints shocked a lot of people by picking Tyler Shough early in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft, but not NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. Pelissero sat down with Jason McIntyre on the Straight Fire podcast to share his thoughts and what he's heard around the league on this year's quarterback class, including Shough. He pushed back on McIntyre's assertions that the Saints picking Shough was the worst QB move in the draft, and said that while Shough's age and extensive time in college stand out, they aren't necessarily bad things to NFL coaches.
"This is one of the wildest stats in this draft," Pelissero said. "The first six years of Tyler Shough's college career, he never played more than seven games in any of those seasons. Perpetually he was a backup for two years, he had the COVID season at Oregon where he did lead them to a conference title, he had three years at Texas Tech (and) got hurt at all of them, then goes to Louisville, puts it together, and has a pretty good season."
He added that coaches were impressed by Shough's performance on the white board and in the film room throughout the pre-draft process, where he expressed familiarity with concepts he'd run before at Oregon or Texas Tech. All told, Shough threw 951 passes across 42 games between his stops at three different schools, but evaluating his game tape is kind of difficult. Pelissero added that he developed some bad habits and shakiness under pressure that wasn't there before he suffered a series of injuries. If he can overcome that, he just might be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Pelissero continued: "I've talked to several who have said this: There's a little bit of flinch with him, do you worry? Is he shying away from contact, trying not to get hit because he's been hurt so much? That's the number one drawback with Tyler Shough. But he's your classic, efficient, smart guy who knows a lot about offense. He's arguably the guy who's most ready to step in and play right now. Depending on what happens with Derek Carr in New Orleans, you could end up have a Tyler Shough competition with Spencer Rattler in New Orleans, and I wouldn't put it against Tyler Shough to be the 2025 Week 1 starter for the Saints."
It sure feels like Carr's time in New Orleans has run its course, even if it's his mysterious shoulder injury keeping him out of football this season (which, at the time of writing, is not a sure thing). If the Saints view Shough as a bridge to Kellen Moore's long-term starter, it just might work out. Maybe the rookie surprises us and plays well enough to hold the job himself. We'll find out in just a few short months.
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