New Orleans Saints Make Bold Move in NFL Draft: Tyler Shough Chosen Over Shedeur Sanders
Hey there, football fans! It’s Katherine Terrell here, bringing you the latest scoop from the New Orleans Saints’ camp. Ever since Kellen Moore took the reins as head coach back in February, the burning question on everyone’s mind has been: Who will be the Saints’ quarterback of the future? Well, it seems like we might have an answer after Friday night’s NFL draft.
The Saints made a splash by selecting Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the 40th pick. This decision came as a surprise to many, especially since Shedeur Sanders was still on the board. The Saints had already passed on Sanders once, opting for Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr with the ninth overall pick on Thursday.
Now, let’s break down the draft dynamics. Shough was the third quarterback off the board, following Cam Ward at No. 1 and Jaxson Dart at No. 25. Meanwhile, Sanders, who many projected as a first-round talent, remained available. It’s worth noting that the Saints haven’t picked a quarterback in the first two rounds since 1971, when they selected the legendary Archie Manning at No. 2 overall.
Shough, who has a unique connection with Manning through the Manning Passing Academy, expressed his excitement, saying, “That’s pretty cool. I didn’t know that. That’s awesome, man. It’s such a great franchise and unbelievable opportunity.”
Under the leadership of Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, the team has typically leaned towards acquiring quarterbacks through free agency. Remember when they signed Drew Brees in 2006 and Derek Carr in 2023? Carr’s future, however, has been a hot topic this offseason. Moore’s initial noncommittal stance on Carr’s status during his February press conference only fueled the speculation. Although Moore later backed Carr, the situation became even more uncertain when news of Carr’s shoulder injury surfaced just days before the offseason program kicked off in April.
Financially, the Saints are tied to Carr’s contract, having guaranteed him $40 million after restructuring. Yet, Carr was reportedly open to exploring other options before the restructure and has been notably absent from the offseason training program.
Both Moore and Loomis have remained tight-lipped about Carr’s current status leading up to the draft. Meanwhile, Shough, who turns 26 in September, is one of the oldest quarterbacks selected in the first two rounds in the common draft era. He’s a year older than second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler and enters the NFL after an extensive seven-year college career.
Shough shared his perspective, saying, “In a perfect scenario, I play 10, 12 years and I’m still mid-thirties and I think any team would ask for that. Coming into this situation, I’ve already seen what can happen in the NFL. I’ve already gone through those challenges in college, so I feel much more prepared now to come in and just play free and have fun and do everything I can to make the team better.”
Shough’s college journey began at Oregon in 2018, where he played behind Justin Herbert and alongside current Saints tight end Juwan Johnson. He started seven games during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season before transferring to Texas Tech. There, he faced setbacks with collarbone injuries in 2021 and 2022, and a broken left fibula in 2023.
Shough’s final college season was at Louisville in 2024, where he started 12 games, completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,915 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also ran for one touchdown and threw six interceptions, earning the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year award from College Sports Communicators.
Shough’s journey to the NFL included playing in the Senior Bowl, a venue where the Saints have found recent draft gems like Rattler in 2024 and Jake Haener in 2023. The Saints had several assistants coaching the Senior Bowl this year, and they also brought Shough in for a visit and attended his Pro Day.
Reflecting on his journey, Shough said, “I think the greatest part about this process is I’ve gotten a whole new perspective and humility with it. My whole thing was, man, it’s probably not going to work out, but I’m going to give it everything I can and if it does great and if it doesn’t, I’m going to be fine and I’m going to make the most of it. I’ve always been confident in myself and I just needed an opportunity at Louisville and that’s my whole goal going in the NFL is just to have fun with it. You got to be prepared, you got to go make every moment count.”
- Shough’s college journey spanned three schools: Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville.
- He overcame multiple injuries, including collarbone breaks and a broken fibula.
- Shough was named the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year by College Sports Communicators.
So, there you have it, folks! The Saints have made their move, and Tyler Shough is ready to seize the opportunity. Will he be the quarterback of the future for New Orleans? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—it’s going to be an exciting ride!
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
