By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The retirement of starting New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr shook the NFL world on Saturday. But just hours after the decision was announced, the team’s rookies were on the field for their second rookie minicamp practice.
Among them was second-round pick and quarterback Tyler Shough. The former Louisville passer is expected to be the favorite to land the team’s starting quarterback position and could do so as early as week one depending on his offseason performance.
In order to earn that opportunity, he’ll have to battle it out with fellow young signal callers Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. Shough met with reporters after Saturday’s practice and spoke about that very competition, a challenge that Shough is clearly looking forward to meeting head on.
“I think that’s all you can ask for is an opportunity at any position,” Shough said in his media availability following rookie minicamp. “I’m going to treat it the same way as if, whoever is on the roster, I’ve got to continue to grow and get better and do my best to elevate the (quarterback) room and team and do everything I can that way.”
This is a chance that many non-first round quarterbacks in today’s day and age don’t often see.
Per @ESPNStatsInfo, if Tyler Shough wins the starting job for the Saints, he’ll be the first non-Round 1 rookie quarterback to start in Week 1 since DeShone Kizer (2017)
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) May 10, 2025
That quarterback was Deshone Kizer for the Cleveland Browns. He finished his rookie season with a 0-15 record. A history the Saints hope not to repeat in New Orleans should Shough get the nod.
For Shough, the moment doesn’t seem too big. He said that head coach Kellen Moore had told him of Carr’s retirement before practice began, but it was back to business for the tandem after that. Whether Carr was on the roster or not, Shough had a clear plan for how he wanted to attack his minicamp, and the news does not seem to have derailed him.
“I was going to come in here regardless of him being here or not and try and continue to grow,” he said. “He’s been such a high-level player for so long, I think it would be a great opportunity to learn from him. It’s also a great opportunity to grow myself and be on this team with a lot of great coaches and guys we have on the team already. So, I’m just excited for what’s forward and the rest of the offseason.”
The competition for the next Saints quarterback will officially begin come training camp, but it’s clear that Shough’s eyes are already on the prize.
