Jul 30, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) talks to New Orleans Saints quarterback coach Scott Tolzien during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
With only Sunday’s games left to play for preseason Week One, New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough will be the final 2025 draft pick at his position to take snaps in the preseason’s opening weekend.
Where he compares to the rest of his field will come down to his performance and the opportunities he is given. Here’s a snapshot look at each drafted rookie quarterback that has debuted so far and who’s left to play.
Left to Play:
- Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers
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- Ewers was selected in the seventh round. Should he take snaps in the early afternoon game between the Dolphins and Chicago Bears, he would be the next drafted rookie quarterback to see preseason playing time.
- Saints’ Tyler Shough
- Shough and the Saints kickoff as the late afternoon game, giving the rookie (who will be second in the team’s rotation) the eyes of the entire NFL when on the field. He will be the final quarterback debut of the draft class.
Preseason Performances So Far:
Of the 11 quarterbacks taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, eight have already seen playing time since the Hall of Fame Game. Here are their stat lines:
- Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward (Round 1, Pick 1): 5/8 for 67 passing yards and an 89.1 passer rating
- New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart (Round 1, Pick 25): 12/19 for 154 passing yards, one passing touchdown and a 106.0 passer rating
- Seattle Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe (Round 3, Pick 92): 6/10 for 61 passing yards and a 77.5 passer rating, three rushes for 38 rushing yards
- Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders (Round 5, Pick 144): 14/23 for 138 passing yards, two touchdowns and a 106.8 passer rating, four rushes for 19 rushing yards
- Philadelphia Eagles QB Kyle McCord (Round 6, Pick 183): 1/5 for eight passing yards, an interception and a 0.0 passer rating
- Indianapolis Colts QB Riley Leonard (Round 6, Pick 191): 12/24 for 92 passing yards, one interception and a 42.4 passer rating, four rushes for 34 rushing yards
- Houston Texans QB Graham Mertz (Round 6, Pick 199): 7/14 for 27 passing yards, three interceptions and a 16.7 passer rating, one rush for nine rushing yards
- Las Vegas Raiders QB Cam Miller (Round 6, Pick 217): 6/7 for 76 passing yards, a touchdown pass and a 151.5 passer rating, one rush for four yards
When Shough takes the field Sunday afternoon, he has a chance to finish the day with one of the best preseason debuts among his class.
Lagniappe:
One undrafted quarterback had an impressive day as well, former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun Ben Woodbridge. The New England Patriots passer completed nine of his 12 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. The tracking for the first week was focused on drafted quarterbacks, but leaving out the UL passer entirely just isn’t an option.
