Christian Verde/New Orleans Sains
By Ross Jackson
Ahead of Sunday’s 27-13 loss for the New Orleans Saints, 2025 NFL Draft selection Tyler Shough was the last remaining drafted rookie quarterback to take a preseason field.
Against the Los Angeles Chargers, Shough had some high highs, but also some low lows. However, the positive plays allowed him to finish up his appearance as one of the best draft rookie quarterback performers of the weekend.
- 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
- Saints QB Tyler Shough (Round 2, Pick 40): 15/22 for 165 passing yards, one passing touchdown, one interception and an 86.4 passer rating, one rush for three rushing yards
- 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
- Miami Dolphins QB Quinn Ewers (Round 7, Picks 231): 5/18 for 91 passing yards and a 48.1 passer rating
While Shough led the rookie group in passing yards, his pick-six interception to Chargers cornerback Eric Rogers severely docked the rest of his day. He also had wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. open downfield during his drive, which could have made his 54-yard bomb to wide receiver Mason Tipton his second score of the day. Unfortunately, Shough and Austin weren’t able to connect.
Shough it. Tipton down there somewhere.
TOUCHDOWN SAINTS! 🙌
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Cbg4XqVQkr
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 10, 2025
While those elements may have held Shough back from being the best drafted quarterback on display in the first week of the preseason, it is easy to consider him among the top-three along with Dart and Sanders.
Shough has shown a lot of progress over the last week or so. If he can keep that trajectory going, he could be looking at more opportunities soon to cash in on with strong performances.
