Shough now favorite to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year

By Ross Jackson

It’s finally happened.

After weeks of outstanding play and sustained success, New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough now leads the betting odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

Per FanDuel Sportsbook, Shough has vaulted to the top of the odds list for the postseason award following another come-from-behind victory against the Tennessee Titans in Week 17. In recent weeks, he’s leapt from fifth place at +1600 odds to now atop the list with -120 odds.

After a one more night of plus odds, @FDSportsbook now has #Saints QB Tyler Shough as the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. pic.twitter.com/KKq3qupBsv

— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) December 29, 2025

Shough leads all rookie quarterbacks with five wins on the season and has accumulated an impressive 69.6% completion rate as a starter, the highest such percentage among rookie quarterbacks since 2001.

These impressive numbers along with the team’s recent momentum have propelled him to the national spotlight, furthering his case to take home the award in February. 

Shough and his top competitor for the award, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, each have one game left to put on a show for the AP voters that will decide the winner. McMillan and the Panthers are a win away from the playoffs while Shough and the Saints have a big game against a bitter rival to close out their season.

The voters may have already seen enough of Shough’s ascension to make him the Saints’ first Offensive Rookie of the Year winner since running back Alvin Kamara in 2017. But another strong performance in a game sure to be heightened in emotion to close out the year can only help.

Shough is coming off of two consecutive 300-yard passing performances and hasn’t thrown an interception in his last three games. He now has two comeback victories and has done so with a skeleton crew around him on offense that includes numerous backup offensive linemen, an injured wide receiver room and the team’s fourth  running back starter of the season.

Taking into account his individual performance, the way he has elevated the players around him and the favor usually shown to quarterbacks in these awards and now the updated odds, Shough may very well establish himself as one of the top rookies in this year’s class along with Defensive Rookie of the Year front-runner and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger. 

Drafted at No. 40 overall, Shough saw his first start in Week 9. He is now 5-3 as a starter, passing for 2,125 yards and nine passing touchdowns (both franchise rookie records) with an additional pair of rushing touchdowns and five interceptions in all of his game appearances.