Tyler Shough Turning Heads in New Orleans with Viral OTA Performance

The New Orleans Saints' quarterback competition is heating up — and second-round rookie Tyler Shough just threw himself firmly into the spotlight.

Shough, drafted out of Louisville, made waves at OTAs this week with a jaw-dropping throw that’s quickly gone viral among Saints fans. During a red-zone drill, Shough dropped a perfectly placed dime into the back of the end zone, threading it just over the outstretched arms of All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis and into the waiting hands of tight end Juwan Johnson. One throw, one moment — but it was enough to ignite the excitement of the Who Dat Nation.

That play, combined with a string of sharp throws throughout offseason practices, is starting to change the conversation around Shough. When the Saints made him their second-round pick, the reaction from the fanbase was mixed at best. Many Saints faithful had their eyes set on Shedeur Sanders or were holding out hope for a more familiar name. Shough’s selection left some lukewarm — unfamiliar, unsure, and unconvinced that he could be the future of the franchise.

But in true New Orleans fashion, it hasn’t taken long for Shough to start winning over the city. Part of it is the way he’s embraced the culture — from local food spots to his easygoing, team-first attitude — but it’s also about what he’s doing on the field. And in a quarterback room filled with youth and uncertainty, that matters more than anything else right now.

The Saints are entering a rare moment in their modern history: a true open quarterback competition. With Derek Carr retiring on May 10, the starting role is up for grabs — something the franchise hasn’t faced since Drew Brees’ retirement in 2021. But unlike that previous battle between seasoned veterans, this one features four young signal-callers with a combined seven career NFL starts and zero wins: Shough, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener (currently recovering from an oblique injury), and undrafted rookie Hunter Dekkers.

The competition is fluid, and head coach Kellen Moore wants it to stay that way.

Still, Shough may already have a leg up. The Saints used a high-value second-round pick on him — the highest draft investment they've made in a quarterback since Archie Manning. That’s not nothing. And according to Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman, Shough enters one of the league’s most favorable rookie quarterback situations, second only to Jaxson Dart in New York.

“The good news for Tyler Shough is that he should have the inside track to the starting job in New Orleans,” Wasserman said, noting the underwhelming performance from Rattler and Haener last season. “The concern is the Saints’ offensive line, which ranked dead last in pass-blocking grade in 2024. But if that group improves, Shough will have weapons to work with.”

Weapons like Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and veteran Brandin Cooks should help — assuming the offensive line, boosted by first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr., gives Shough enough time to use them.

While it’s far too early to declare Shough the starter — especially with Haener due back for training camp and Rattler still in the mix — the momentum is beginning to tilt in his favor. And he knows the importance of building chemistry and knowledge at this early stage.

“We’re all around the same age, speak the same language,” Shough said of his fellow quarterbacks. “Learning this offense together, bouncing ideas off of each other, competing — that’s been the fun part.”

Still, fun or not, only one of these quarterbacks will be under center come Week 1.

He may not have the resume yet. He may not have been the fans’ first choice. But with every laser throw and every step toward leadership, Tyler Shough is doing what any great New Orleans quarterback must: earning it. The Who Dat Nation is watching — and slowly, they’re starting to believe.