Main Photo: Stephen Lew Imagn Images

Report: Tyler Shough’s Saints Future Already In Doubt

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By David Latham | Last updated Sep 13, 2025 1:00 PM ET

The New Orleans Saints selected Tyler Shough early in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft and gave him a fully guaranteed four-year contract. Despite this heavy investment, the Clemson product may not receive the on-field time required to prove himself worthy of a starting job.

Second-year passer Spencer Rattler won the Week 1 starting job, and Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline reported head coach Kellen Moore will “give him as much opportunity as possible” to maintain the starting job for the 2025 season. Pauline’s report adds that New Orleans is “already playing for next year’s draft” and is actively monitoring the upcoming quarterback class. Given this information, will it be possible for Tyler Shough to carve out a role for himself on the Saints?

Aug 23, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) runs in for a touchdown against Denver Broncos linebacker Andrew Farmer (53) during the fourth quarter at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Tyler Shough May Not Have A Future With the Saints

Spencer Rattler didn’t set the world on fire in Week 1, but he played better than he did in his rookie season. Completing 26 of his 47 attempts for 214 yards, the second-year passer finished the night with a 77.3 PFF grade, the 12th-best mark in the league. While performances like this won’t earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame, it could keep Tyler Shough holding a clipboard for the Saints. Rattler looked like a low-end starter, which, based on Pauline’s report, will allow him to keep the job moving forward.

The Saints have a weak roster and will probably be in a position to draft a franchise quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Seeing as Shough couldn’t beat out Rattler despite having superior draft capital, it’s hard to envision a world where he earns playing time over a healthy top-10 pick. Shough made a few nice plays in the preseason, but his chances of starting for the Saints could be over before they ever truly began.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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