Saints, QB Tyler Shough agree on fully guaranteed rookie deal

It was 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins, picked three slots after Shough, who actually broke through the impasse, and the pick after Shough, Bills defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, signed yesterday with 94.6 percent of his contract guaranteed, meaning Shough’s 40th draft slot now stands as the lowest pick in modern draft history to receive full guarantees. His also, according to Schefter, is the only non-first round pick that includes annual roster bonus structure, with which Shough receives the majority of his compensation each year during the first week of training camp.

Coming out of football powerhouse Hamilton HS (AZ), Shough committed to Oregon as the top recruit in the state and a consensus top-seven quarterback recruit. With Justin Herbert firmly entrenched in the starting spot behind center, Shough redshirted and served as a backup in Year 2. After Herbert moved on to the NFL, Shough got his chance to start for the Ducks, winning his first three contests. Back-to-back unexpected losses to Oregon State and Cal forced then-head coach Mario Cristobal to start splitting series between Shough and Anthony Brown down the stretch of the COVID-19-shortened season

With Brown ending the season with more momentum than Shough, the latter made the decision to transfer to Texas Tech. In his first season in Lubbock, Shough won the starting job over an incumbent senior and three freshmen but broke his collarbone in the fourth game of the season. He won the starting competition the following year, as well, but missed a few games after exiting the season opener with a shoulder injury. When he returned late in the year, he won every one of his starts, assuring that he would start again in 2023. Once again, though, injury forced Shough off the field after only four games when a broken fibula required surgery.

Granted a seventh year of eligibility, Shough transferred to Louisville and finally delivered a full season of work. Starting all 12 games for the Cardinals, Shough went 8-4, completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Perhaps, cautioned from his injury-riddled history, the at times mobile quarterback showed a much lower propensity for taking off with the ball in his final collegiate season.

With a 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame, Shough looks the part of an NFL quarterback. He also does a lot of things that offensive coordinators love to see at the NFL level. He boasts a quick delivery, an ability to throw from different arm angles, the touch and arm strength to cover all areas of the field, and good accuracy when throwing on the run. The red flags are a bit obvious, having only completed one full season in seven years of college and entering the NFL at 26 years old, but he also has a tendency to throw up some prayers, which can result in big plays but also potential disasters.

There’s no question what his role will be in New Orleans. Shough will be coming in with the hopes that he can beat out Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener for the starting job behind center in 2025. He proved time and again in college that he can win out in position battles, but now he’ll be competing with a couple of passers who have a head start in NFL experience. Shough is the oldest quarterback to enter the NFL since Brandon Weeden, who was 28 years old when he was selected, encroaching a bit closer to Weeden than last year’s 24-year-olds Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr.

With the biggest one of the three biggest dominoes having fallen, only nine rookies still need to sign their contracts. The Shemar Stewart situation has been covered in great detail, and the Browns want Quinshon Judkins focusing on his legal situation. Aside from them, there are three groups of picks later on in the second round that need to put pen to paper.

With Shough closing out the Saints’ rookie class signings, here’s a final look at New Orleans’ nine-man draft class:

• Round 1, No. 9: Kelvin Banks Jr. (T, Texas) (signed)
• Round 2, No. 40: Tyler Shough (QB, Louisville) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 71: Vernon Broughton (DT, Texas) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 93 (from Commanders): Jonas Sanker (S, Virginia) (signed)
• Round 4, No. 112: Danny Stutsman (LB, Oklahoma) (signed)
• Round 4, No. 131 (from Commanders): Quincy Riley (CB, Louisville) (signed)
• Round 6, No. 184 (reacquired from Commanders): Devin Neal (RB, Kansas) (signed)
• Round 7, No. 248 (from Eagles through Commanders): Moliki Matavao (TE, UCLA) (signed)
• Round 7, No. 254*: Fadil Diggs (DE, Syracuse) (signed)