Tyler Shough wasn’t supposed to be the guy in New Orleans-at least not this soon. But seven starts later, he’s not only leading the Saints to wins, he’s staking a serious claim as the team’s quarterback of the future. With four victories under his belt, including three straight, the rookie has quickly gone from question mark to cornerstone in a franchise that’s clearly in rebuild mode.
And it’s not just the numbers-though those are solid. Shough’s thrown for 1,792 yards and seven touchdowns while completing 66.4% of his passes.
That’s more than respectable for a first-year starter. But what’s really turning heads in the locker room is how he carries himself.
Alvin Kamara, one of the team’s veteran leaders, gave some insight into what makes Shough tick during a recent appearance on The Set with Terron Armstead podcast. And according to Kamara, it’s the stuff you won’t find on a stat sheet that sets the rookie apart.
“Tyler is a super mature dude,” Kamara said. “Where everybody is looking for the production on the field, I look at the intangible stuff.
Like, Tyler's personality. It plays to his advantage, for as serious a job he has to come in and do.”
That balance-between keeping things light and still demanding excellence-is rare, especially in a rookie quarterback stepping into a high-pressure role. Kamara noted that Shough doesn’t take himself too seriously, which helps him stay loose and avoid the mental traps that come with trying to do too much too fast.
“He's a rookie coming in. He's still got, like, ‘I don't take myself too serious’ vibe about him,” Kamara added.
“Because you can kind of paralyze yourself by being so serious and being stiff. But Tyler has this way of kind of being playful, but still getting the work done and still commanding excellence from the people around him.”
That kind of leadership-quiet, confident, and authentic-has clearly resonated in the Saints’ locker room. And it’s showing up on the field, too. Shough’s chemistry with his teammates has been evident during the team’s recent win streak, and his poise under pressure has been a stabilizing force for a roster that’s seen more than its share of injuries and lineup shuffling.
Outside the building, the buzz is growing. With just two regular-season games left in 2025, draft analysts are already looking back at how things might’ve gone differently. On his podcast, Todd McShay re-drafted the 2025 NFL class and put Shough at the very top-first overall-over Cam Ward.
“Tell me why I'm wrong,” McShay said on The McShay Show, joined by analyst Steve Muench. “Tracking to potentially be Offensive Rookie of the Year. Measurables, mobility-6-4, 220-mobility, arm strength, off schedule, on schedule.”
McShay pointed to Shough’s 308-yard performance against the Jets as another example of his growing command of the offense. Sure, it was the Jets-but as McShay noted, this isn’t a one-game flash.
It’s been building for weeks. And he’s doing it while leading a team that’s been hit hard by injuries, with backups filling in across the depth chart.
“He’s won three straight, he’s led that Saints team which has a bunch of backups to backups to backups,” McShay said.
It’s not just Shough making waves, either. In McShay’s re-draft, offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.-originally taken ninth overall by New Orleans-also cracks the top four, joining his quarterback as one of the most impactful rookies in the class.
At this point, the starting job is clearly Shough’s to lose. Spencer Rattler had his shot earlier in the season, but after a 1-7 record, it’s hard to argue with the results since Shough took over. He’s brought stability, leadership, and-most importantly-wins.
For a team in transition, that’s exactly what the Saints needed. And if Shough keeps this up, New Orleans might’ve found its next franchise quarterback without having to wait for the future. He’s already here.