Saints draft Tyler Shough, passing on Shedeur Sanders

The New Orleans Saints selected Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the third quarterback chosen after Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart and ahead of Shedeur Sanders. Shough, who will turn 26 in September after a seven-year college career at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville, brings significant experience but also a history of injuries, including a broken collarbone, shoulder injury, and broken leg. Despite these setbacks, he had his best season at Louisville in 2024, throwing for over 3,100 yards, 23 touchdowns, and earning national comeback player of the year honors. Shough's selection comes amid uncertainty over Derek Carr's future as the Saints' starter due to an ongoing shoulder injury, and he will compete for the starting job alongside Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. While some analysts question the upside of drafting an older quarterback with a history of injuries, others note Shough's arm talent, mobility, and strong pocket presence as reasons for optimism. This pick marks the first time since 1971 the Saints have used a top-two-round pick on a quarterback, signaling a possible shift toward planning for the future at the position.