May 10, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) during rookie minicamp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The New Orleans Saints are desperately going to need quality quarterback play in 2025 to overcome the rest of their shortcomings.
New Orleans is coming off a 5-12 season in which they went 0-7 when starting QB Derek Carr was out due to injury. Of course, Carr is now retired, so the Saints are entering the year without a single passer on the roster with an NFL win under their belt.
Rookie second-round pick Tyler Shough looks to have the inside track for the starting job. Whether he can become the long-term solution for the Saints remains to be seen, but the 25-year-old likely has more upside than either of the returners, Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener.
Though Shough only had one full season as a college starter, he's generating enough excitement that some believe he might have a shot at winning the award every first-year player hopes to earn.
On Friday, Bleacher Report's Damian Parson named Shough as one of seven early front-runners who he deemed "most likely" to win the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
"Shough is surrounded by a good offensive supporting cast. The Saints improved the O-line by selecting Kelvin Banks Jr. one year after drafting Taliese Fuaga in Round 1," Parson wrote. "There's also an explosive group of pass-catchers led by Chris Olave, while Alvin Kamara remains a good starting running back when healthy."
"If given the full slate of games to start and develop as a rookie, Shough can make the necessary plays to raise the floor of this offense. One thing is for sure: The NFL loves rewarding impactful quarterbacks. Shough can make a strong case if he becomes a catalyst for the Saints franchise turning around in 2025."
Many projections have the Saints finishing with the worst record in the NFL this season, so Shough leading them to a respectable (near .500) record could easily garner him consideration for Rookie of the Year.
There will undoubtedly be stiff competition, though, especially in highly-touted first-round picks like the Tennessee Titans' Cam Ward and the Las Vegas Raiders' Ashton Jeanty.