Experts praise Saints draft pick Tyler Shough

By Ross Jackson

Selecting Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough was a historic for the New Orleans Saints. The Saints made Shough the highest drafted quarterback for the team since Archie Manning was selected No. 2 overall in 1971.

Adding in the supplemental draft, the Saints also selected quarterback Dave Wilson in 1981.

The Saints’ selection drew a lot of scrutiny at the time because the team passed on now-Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, but Sanders’ fall to the fifth round may have quelled some of those reactions. Now, the outlook is much more positive around the selection and the player.

At 6-foot-5 and 219 pounds, Shough’s build, NFL arm and pro-ready evaluations have fans excited to see him during training camp and potentially the regular season depending on the condition of starting passer Derek Carr and competition with second-year signal caller Spencer Rattler.

Among those sharing positive feedback about the selection of Shough are select NFL experts. From media members to trusted evaluators to anonymous NFL executives, the Saints’ selection has garnered a lot of praise.

Louisville WR Coach and Former NFL Wideout Deion Branch

Saints fans, here’s some high praise for QB Tyler Shough from a Super Bowl Champ & SB MVP. #whodat

listen to Deion Branch: pic.twitter.com/FBB2HkfpcQ

— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) May 8, 2025

“Tyler’s all that,” Branch said as he visited with Kay Adams. Branch coached the wide receivers that Shough spent a a pair of years with at Louisville and clearly thinks very highly of him. Not only did he completely co-sign the selection, but even made the prediction that the conversation would be revisited with shock at its accuracy in future years.

“You drafted the right quarterback.” Branch emphasized. “Tyler is an NFL quarterback that was in college and I’m very blessed and thankful that (Louisville head football coach) Jeff Brohm went out and found this guy in the transfer portal last season.“

NFL Analyst and Former Saints Quarterback Chase Daniel

Tyler Shough is easily the most interesting rookie in this draft class.

He’s going to have to play right away & the Saints have a good team that can win the NFC South.

Scoop City with @DMRussini ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Sa73JJF4nV

— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) May 6, 2025

Daniel explained to Scoop City co-host Dianna Russini that Shough is in a good situation, making him the most interesting rookie in this year’s entire NFL draft class.

ESPN Analyst Louis Riddick

Riddick has been praising Shough as the most pro-ready passer in this year’s draft for some time. But when he joined the New Orleans Saints Podcast with host Erin Summers, he was clear that he believes that Shough is everything the Saints will hope he can be.

“Just watch him play,” Riddick said. “He can do everything in the pro game that (Saints head coach) Kellen Moore is going to ask him to do. And quite honestly, Kellen’s the perfect coach for him because it’s going to be like a collaboration of things. A combination of what he did well at Louisville, some of the stuff maybe that he did at Texas Tech in the air raid; he can do it all. As long as the offensive line, running game and the receivers are healthy, Tyler Shough’s going to have a hell of a career.”

NFL Matchup Executive Producer Greg Cosell

“His tape was the second best of ANY of the quarterbacks coming out…”

“This guy has all the traits and physical attributes to be a quality starting NFL quarterback.”@GregCosell breaks down Saints rookie QB Tyler Shough: pic.twitter.com/hOOQSVrAT6

— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) May 5, 2025

Cosell is one of the most respected evaluators in the industry. He’s a guy you would want in your corner while pursuing an NFL playing career. In his appearance on the Ross Tucker Podcast, he explained why Shough stood out on tape.

“His tape was the second best, in my view, of any of the quarterbacks coming out,” Cosell said to Tucker. “Now you have to fit him into a scheme. I don’t see a problem at all with Kellen Moore, he can do whatever his talent demands … “ But this guy has all the traits and physical attributes to be a quality starting NFL quarterback.”

Anonymous AFC Executive

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polled around the league for intel on draft classes and selections and what he found out about Shough might answer some of the question marks as to why he was drafted as highly as he was, even though the public’s perception was that he would go much later.

“He was a hot name Day 2,” the executive told Fowler. “Sounds like he would have gone pretty quickly if not for New Orleans. He’s got some of what Kellen Moore (likes), intelligence at the position, good makeup.(He) will need to improve his accuracy at the next level.”

The Draft Network’s Scouting Director Keith Sanchez

Sanchez, a Louisiana-native himself, praised Shough on a recent episode of the Ultimate New Orleans Sports Show for his ability to show up in the biggest games of his collegiate career.

“The (toughest) games that he played this year, Clemson, Notre Dame, Miami,” Sanchez said. “He played his best football. So that’s a positive sign. And then secondly, if you look at the past quarterbacks that Kellen Moore had, they’re all big and they all have some type of athleticism to them. So, I think Kellen Moore identified Tyler Shough as a guy that ran a 4.6 and (said), ‘You know what? I might be able to mold this guy into something.’”