TYLER SHOUGH
Quarterback
University of Louisville
25 years old
6’5”
225 pounds
Drafted No.40 to the New Orleans Saints
2024 STATS
3,195 air yards, 23 TDs, 6 INTs
244 completions on 389 attempts, 62.7 completion percentage
8.2 yards per attempt
19 rush yards, 1 TD
42 attempts
0.5 yards per attempt
WHAT’S THE EVALUATION?
A late college football bloomer and draft riser, Louisville’s Tyler Shough is one of the oldest quarterbacks to come out of the draft this year.
The age is evident in his football IQ. He took under center snaps and ran play action passes from right at the line and in the shotgun. He throws the ball away to avoid bad sacks. He keeps his eyes downfield on scrambles but will still take free yards on the ground. All signs point to an experienced, smart quarterback.
But, if I’m being honest, that is where most of the positives end. Despite impressive accuracy rolling out of the pocket, Shough struggles to consistently make accurate throws.
Delivering accurate throws was especially challenging on downfield targets or with defenders bearing down on him in the pocket.
All of Shough’s noticeable experience appears nonexistent in his footwork. He is jumpy, skittish almost, in the pocket and tends to drift backward instead of stepping into throws.
It is worth noting Shough is a better athlete than the stats give him credit for but he is still a far cry from an elite athletic prospect.
EXPECTATIONS
Any way you slice it, Shough is old for a quarterback entering the league and did not show NFL-level promise until his seventh season in college.
While experience is always a plus, it is hard to imagine Shough fixing bad habits or developing any skills to aid him in the league at this point in his career.
At his best, Shough is capable of making the right decision to maximize his abilities.
But at his, seemingly more frequent, worst? Shough is inaccurate and a sitting duck, bouncing around the pocket waiting to be picked off by faster, stronger NFL defenses.
FANTASY FALLOUT
No matter which version of Shough you think will appear, he has a strong chance to start any or all of the New Orleans Saints games this year.
It is worth taking a flier on Shough given the situation he walks into. Running back Alvin Kamara provides a strong safety valve as a checkdown option and Chris Olave is the highlight of a solid receiving core.
His running ability is not going to create any reliable fantasy value and I think it is more than likely he falls in the bottom third of starting quarterbacks in terms of fantasy points, even if the upside case hits.
Final Verdict: Late third round pick
Wolveridge Langan 