The New Orleans Saints are in a precarious situation at the quarterback position. Since Derek Carr announced his retirement due to injuries, the Saints have been left with a wide-open competition under center.
They were mostly out of the running for any of the top free-agent quarterbacks this offseason, which meant they had to hope the 2025 NFL Draft offered an answer.
Like many teams, they passed on Shedeur Sanders with their first-round pick at No. 9 overall, opting instead for Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks. But in the second round, they selected Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the 40th pick.
Shough began flying up draft boards as the draft approached, with many scouts believing he had all the tools to succeed. He could even see action in his rookie season — but first, he’ll have to beat out Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener.
SI’s Albert Breer believes that outside of Cam Ward in Tennessee, Shough has the best chance to start among this year’s rookie class.
“I’d say Saints rookie Tyler Shough has the best chance to start, with only Spencer Rattler in his way in New Orleans,” Breer wrote. “Jaxson Dart, Gabriel or Sanders may eventually get real work with their teams but probably not from the very beginning of the season. A rookie QB starting anywhere else would signal disaster.”
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But there’s a holdup. Shough has yet to sign his rookie contract due to a major demand, and it’s reportedly delaying several other second-round deals.
“The second-round signings have come to a grinding halt because of 40th overall pick Tyler Shough, who was the eighth player selected in the round,” CBS Sports’ Joel Corry reported. “According to sources, Shough is insisting on a fully guaranteed contract since he is expecting to be the New Orleans Saints’ starting quarterback for the 2025 regular-season opener with Derek Carr recently retiring.”
Shough is one of just 36 unsigned players from the 2025 draft class — and 30 of those are from the second round. Agents of those players appear to be waiting on the outcome between Shough and the Saints.
“Shough getting a fully guaranteed contract or security for a substantial portion of his fourth-year compensation in 2028 will give the unsigned picks ahead of him more ammunition to do the same,” Corry said.
He added: “The players selected within a few picks after Shough are also hoping to benefit from a trickle-down effect for any headway he makes with his fourth-year guarantee.”
It’s a calculated move by Shough and his representation — and not without leverage. Rattler, who went 0-6 in six starts for New Orleans last season, is the only quarterback with any notable experience on the roster. Haener has appeared in eight games with only one start.
Interestingly, Shough (25) is older than Rattler (24) and brings 42 games of college experience across Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville. Last season with the Cardinals, he had a career year, throwing for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Saints training camp opens July 22, when both rookies and veterans are expected to report. It remains to be seen whether Shough will be signed — or if his holdout will continue as contract leverage and depth chart opportunity collide.