The New Orleans Saints are making a shift towards a youth-driven strategy at quarterback by promoting 2025 second-round rookie Tyler Shough to their starting quarterback position.
He takes over for 2024 fifth-round quarterback Spencer Rattler, who endured a rough season with a record of 1-13 in his first 14 starts—tying for the second-lowest record for a quarterback in their debut stretch since 1950. In a recent game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Shough replaced Rattler, completing 17 out of 30 passes for 128 yards and one interception. Now, as the 40th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, he is set to make his debut in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams. Shough is notably the second-highest drafted quarterback by the Saints since the Common Draft era (post-1967), surpassed only by Archie Manning, taken second overall in the 1971 NFL Draft.
“Tyler Shough will start Sunday ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/2Iz7eXpJnE” — New Orleans Saints @Saints
The central concern remains: can he perform well? As a 26-year-old rookie burdened with a history of injuries from three different colleges — Oregon (2018-2020), Texas Tech (2021-2023), and Louisville (2024) — his success might hinge on the compatibility with Kellen Moore, who previously served as Dak Prescott’s offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys. Moore’s leadership witnessed Dallas host three top ten scoring offenses within four years, including a record-breaking performance in total and scoring offense in 2021.
However, success on the field may be contingent upon decisive changes in management. Mickey Loomis, who has been at the helm as general manager for 24 seasons, shows no indications of leaving. Under Loomis’ roster handling at the end of the Drew Brees era, New Orleans is currently 1-7, with an average of 16 points per game—its worst startup since 1999. The Saints project $14.2 million over the salary cap for 2026, a problematic situation for a team that ought to be in rebuilding mode.
Despite being classified as a rebuilding team, Loomis consistently restructures veteran contracts to delay cap impacts. This management approach hampers roster flexibility, with $95.4 million in dead money affecting the current cap, significantly impacting their ability to acquire new talent. The upcoming offseason in 2027 is pivotal for recovery.
Though Shough is equipped with weapons like Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed, it may be crucial for him and Kellen Moore to advocate for new management that can effectively navigate the Saints’ cap space constraints. Without such changes, Shough risks falling into the quarterback graveyard that has emerged since Brees’ retirement after the 2020 season.
