Rookie QB Roundup: Tyler Shough Surging, but Ward, Sanders, and Dart Still Loom Large
The 2025 NFL rookie quarterback class has been anything but predictable. Cam Ward was the consensus top pick and went No. 1 overall, but the quarterback making the biggest splash right now? That’d be Tyler Shough - a name few had pegged as the third passer off the board back in April.
Shough, taken 40th overall by the New Orleans Saints, didn’t even start the season under center. He began the year watching from the sidelines behind Spencer Rattler.
And to be fair, Rattler wasn’t bad - he exceeded expectations in spots. But the Saints needed a jolt, and by Week 9, they handed the keys to their rookie.
Since then, Shough has done more than just steady the ship - he’s injected real optimism into a franchise that’s been searching for answers at quarterback for years.
Let’s break it down: Shough is 4-3 as a starter, and New Orleans is riding a three-game win streak with him leading the charge. He’s thrown for 1,792 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding two more scores on the ground. These aren’t just empty stats - they’ve come in meaningful moments, with the Saints clawing their way back into competitive football.
What makes Shough’s rise even more impressive is what he’s been working without. Alvin Kamara has missed a good chunk of his starts due to injury, meaning defenses haven’t had to respect the Saints’ ground game like usual.
And shortly after Shough took over, New Orleans traded away one of his top weapons in Rashid Shaheed. So, he’s been producing without a full arsenal - and that says something.
Shough’s game isn’t flashy, but it’s efficient. He’s got enough arm strength to make the big throws, and he’s cut down on the erratic decisions that hurt him in college.
He’s not going to wow you with elite traits, but he’s showing the kind of poise and consistency that NFL teams covet. If he had started from Week 1 and maintained this level of play, we’d be talking about him as one of the top statistical rookie quarterbacks in the league.
But while Shough has looked the part lately, the story of this rookie class is far from written.
Cam Ward: Flashes of Brilliance, Frustration, and a Lack of Help
Cam Ward’s rookie campaign has been a rollercoaster. As the No. 1 overall pick, expectations were sky-high - and in some corners, he’s already being unfairly labeled a bust. But let’s pump the brakes.
Ward has thrown for 2,866 yards and 13 touchdowns while starting all season for the Tennessee Titans. The numbers aren’t eye-popping, but they also don’t tell the full story.
Watch the tape, and you’ll see a quarterback who can make every throw. The issue?
His receivers haven’t done him many favors. Drops, poor separation, and a general lack of playmaking have plagued this Titans offense.
Despite the challenges, Ward has shown signs of turning the corner. Over his last three games, he’s tossed two touchdowns in each contest and has just one interception in that span.
He’s also picked up a pair of wins - a positive sign for a young quarterback trying to find his footing. If Tennessee can surround him with competent pass-catchers, Ward still has the tools to become the franchise cornerstone they envisioned when they made him the top pick.
Shedeur Sanders: Under the Spotlight, Battling for the Browns' Future
Few rookies entered the league with more attention - or pressure - than Shedeur Sanders. After a dramatic draft-day slide that saw him fall all the way to the fifth round, Sanders has been trying to prove he belongs ever since. And while it’s been a bumpy ride, there’s reason to believe the Browns may have found something.
Sanders didn’t start the season under center. He began as the third-stringer but eventually worked his way into the starting role.
Since then, it’s been a mixed bag. He’s had flashes of brilliance and moments of struggle, but considering the circumstances - a shaky offensive line and the weight of sky-high expectations - he’s held his own.
The Browns have cycled through 42 starting quarterbacks since 2000. Sanders might be the one to finally bring some stability.
He’s got the arm talent, he’s made some big-time throws under pressure, and he’s shown resilience - something that’s been a hallmark of his career, even before the NFL. He’s still battling for the job with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, but right now, Sanders looks like the guy with the inside track.
Jaxson Dart: Raw, Rugged, and Learning on the Fly
Then there’s Jaxson Dart - arguably the most physically gifted of the bunch, but also the most raw. The Giants took him in the first round hoping to develop a long-term answer at quarterback, and while the flashes have been there, so have the growing pains.
The Giants are 2-13 and riding a brutal nine-game losing streak. Dart’s most recent outing was one to forget - just seven completions for 33 yards in a Week 16 blowout loss.
But context matters. New York knew Dart was a project.
He’s a dual-threat athlete with a cannon for an arm, but he’s still learning how to play quarterback at the NFL level.
His ability to run the ball has been both a blessing and a curse. He’s made some highlight-reel plays with his legs, but he’s also taken too many hits.
The Giants have made it clear: he needs to protect himself better if he’s going to be their long-term guy. Still, the upside is there.
With better protection and more reps, Dart could blossom - but it’s going to take time.
The Verdict So Far
Right now, Tyler Shough has been the most productive and consistent rookie quarterback of the 2025 class. He’s winning games, protecting the football, and showing leadership in a tough situation. But the long-term race is far from over.
Cam Ward still has the highest ceiling, and if the Titans can build around him, he could justify that No. 1 pick. Shedeur Sanders is showing flashes in Cleveland and has the mental toughness to thrive in one of the NFL’s toughest markets. And Jaxson Dart - while raw - has the kind of tools that coaches dream about.
Shough might not be elite in any one category, but he’s proving that sometimes, being solid across the board can take you a long way in this league. Whether that’s enough to hold off the rest of this talented class in the long run? That’s a story still being written.