New Orleans Saints

There is reportedly some belief within the NFL that quarterback Tyler Shough will start for the New Orleans Saints as a rookie.

Speaking to Mike Sando of The Athletic, an anonymous NFL executive said the following about Shough: "I'd be surprised if the quarterback is not starting for them. He has the arm talent. He is really smart. He comes across as a veteran already. With him, it's about staying healthy."

New Orleans was the third team to select a quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft, nabbing Shough with the No. 40 overall pick in the second round.

The Saints were viewed as a team likely to go quarterback early for numerous reasons, including the arrival of a new head coach in former NFL quarterback and longtime NFL offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Also, a couple of weeks before the draft, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t NFL.com's Nick Shook) reported that veteran starting quarterback Derek Carr was dealing with a shoulder injury that "threatens his availability for the upcoming season."

If Carr is unable to play, it leaves Shough, 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler and 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener as the Saints' quarterback options.

Rattler went 0-6 as a starter last season, throwing four touchdowns and five interceptions, while Haener lost his only start.

After spending seven seasons in college at Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville, Shough is already 25 years old, so he is more mature than most rookies entering the league.

Because of injuries, he never appeared in more than seven games in any of his first six seasons, but he finally stayed healthy last season and showed what he could do over the course of a full campaign.

Shough went 8-4 as Louisville's starter last season, completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions.

It raised some eyebrows when the Saints took Shough in the second round since he will turn 26 during the first month of his rookie season, but if the plan was to start him right away, that pick makes a lot more sense.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr confirmed he has a shoulder injury and has remained in "constant communication" with the team.

Carr addressed his situation at a recent church service in Las Vegas. He added he has "been dealing with people lying about me."

Derek Carr is publicly speaking about his shoulder injury. During a church service in Las Vegas (@TheChurchLV), he said he has been in contact with #Saints officials, has gotten an MRI and says everyone is trying to figure out the next steps. pic.twitter.com/ud2GRiHixI

— Farrah Yvette (@farrah_yvette) April 28, 2025

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport first reported on April 11 that the four-time Pro Bowler had a shoulder injury "that threatens his availability for this season." More than two weeks later, there's still no clarity about his status.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini (via Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated) reported April 14 on her Scoop City podcast that people around the league believe there's something "fishy" about the injury.

"I did have a lot of text messages and conversations over the last few days about the Derek Carr situation and it was very hard for me to find someone in football who said, 'Oh, Derek's definitely dealing with a serious shoulder injury,'" Russini said. "It was, 'How long have you been doing this? You know what this is about. Trade Bait. End of the day, that's what this is about.'"

ESPN's Katherine Terrell also reported some members of New Orleans' coaching staff "were unaware of the situation before the news leaked."

It looks like the Saints are planning for a post-Carr future, perhaps as early as this year. They used a second-round draft pick on Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough.

Between Shough's draft position and age (25), he could presumably be a candidate to start as early as Week 1.

Carr's remarks should eliminate any questions about his health, but the Saints' future at quarterback remains unclear.

The New Orleans Saints weighed whether to take Shedeur Sanders before opting instead for Tyler Shough in the 2025 NFL draft.

"He was right in those conversations," head coach Kellen Moore told reporters of Sanders. "These are really tough decisions. He's a really good player. What he accomplished at Colorado and when you watch the film, it's really, really good. I think really highly of him. Ultimately, as you go through it, you've got to make a decision. We felt like Tyler was the one for us."

The status of Derek Carr remains unclear as he deals with a shoulder injury, and that uncertainty led many to think the Saints would invest a valuable pick on a quarterback.

Mickey Loomis acknowledges that Derek Carr has a shoulder injury and they hope to have clarity on the situation soon.

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 23, 2025

Loomis: "I'm not going to answer any more questions about Derek. If you have questions about the draft I'm happy to answer those."

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 23, 2025

To that end, Sanders was a popular choice for New Orleans, only for the team to use a second-rounder on Shough.

The former Louisville QB rose on draft boards despite the fact he'll turn 26 in September and only had one full season as a starter in college thanks to injuries.

Moore said the Saints "saw it as a positive" that Shough overcame so much before excelling on the field in 2024. New Orleans wasn't dissuaded by his age, either.

"Quarterbacks aren't maturing and peaking necessarily until their early 30s," Moore told reporters. "A lot of these guys. They're continuing to build. They've got a long career, if they have success. You've seen that a lot throughout this league."

Considering Sanders ultimately fell to the fifth round, where he was picked by the Cleveland Browns, the Saints may not come to regret passing on the former Colorado signal-caller. The opinions of NFL teams diverged sharply with how draft experts graded his skill set, and that has moved the bar on what kind of career he's now expected to have.

But New Orleans made a relatively big bet on Shough, and how he develops will help to set the tone for Moore's tenure.

The New Orleans Saints won't take Derek Carr's shoulder injury into consideration when they make their 2025 NFL Draft selection, general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday.

"I don't think the draft approach for us is any different than it would be in any year," Loomis said, per NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman. "We're looking for as many good players, great players as we can find."

Loomis was also not interested in answering many questions regarding Carr.

"I'm not going to answer any more questions about Derek," he told reporters. "If you have questions about the draft I'm happy to answer those."

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Thursday that the Saints "are not expected to have clarity" on Carr's status prior to the draft as previously hoped.

Loomis' deflection of questions about Carr comes amid reported tension in the relationship between the quarterback and the front office. Per NFL insider James Palmer, "there is a growing sentiment that" Carr and Loomis' relationship is "not in a good place."

Carr, 34, played 10 games a year ago, throwing for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. After a rocky 2024 season, his 2025 season is in jeopardy because of his shoulder injury. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported earlier this month that Carr is "weighing his options" and is considering the "possibility" of undergoing surgery.

The #Saints suddenly have a major QB question: Starter Derek Carr is now dealing with a shoulder injury that threatens his availability for this season, sources say.

Carr is weighing options, including the possibility of surgery. pic.twitter.com/QNdc9ipE8P

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 11, 2025

Carr is set to play the 2025 season on the third year of a four-year, $150 million deal, a contract that he hasn't lived up to so far.

Considering Carr's injury and his reported tension with the front office, the Saints drafting a quarterback on Thursday seems like a real possibility.

Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department projects New Orleans to trade up from the No. 9 pick to the No. 6 pick to select Colorado star quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Sanders, who threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season, is the No. 23 overall player and the No. 2 quarterback on the final big board from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.

If the New Orleans Saints are going to come out of the 2025 NFL draft with a quarterback, all signs are pointing to it being Jaxson Dart over Shedeur Sanders.

In the latest version of The McShay Report, NFL draft insider Todd McShay noted Dart is "high" on the Saints' list of draft prospects.

McShay wrote that based on conversations he has had recently, New Orleans' interest in Dart is stronger than previously believed. It's unclear if this means he will be in play for them at No. 9 overall.

If the Saints were to pass on Dart with their first pick, there could be a fight among several teams to take the Ole Miss quarterback.

Per SNY's Connor Hughes, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is "high" on Dart. ESPN's Dan Graziano cited the Cleveland Browns as a team that could select Dart with the first pick of the second round.

Given how much smoke seems to be around Dart at this point, these teams might be inclined to trade back into the first round to select him.

B/R's NFL scouting department is projecting the Saints to make a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 21st pick and select Dart. The trade package would have New Orleans send its second-rounder (No. 40), one of its third-round picks (No. 93) and a 2026 second-rounder to Pittsburgh.

That's a steep price to pay for a team that has several roster holes to fill, but it would be perfectly in keeping with the Saints' approach in the draft. General manager Mickey Loomis has traded up in the first round four times since 2017.

If the Saints and new head coach Kellen Moore believe Dart can be the long-term answer at quarterback, a trade up into the first round would be a small price to pay if he works out.

It would just be a big swing for a franchise that hasn't really made hard contact in a long time and is coming off a 5-12 record in 2024.

The New Orleans Saints selected Texas DL Vernon Broughton with the No. 71 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Vernon Broughton certainly looks the part of an NFL defensive tackle with impressive size and great arm length. That helps him be a good run defender, as he’s stout at the point of attack and uses his long arms to help get extension on blocks. He’s hard to move one-on-one and has shown the ability to occasionally split double-teams.

However, Broughton lacks upside as a pass-rusher. He isn’t a good bull-rusher, doesn’t have the twitch and use of hands to be effective with finesse moves, and needs to rush with a better plan. That will likely cap his ceiling in the NFL.

With that said, the Texas product is a good target as a late Day 3 pick for a team looking for a 3-technique defensive tackle to add some depth to its interior run defense.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 311

HAND: 9¼” 

ARM: 35” 

WINGSPAN: 83⅞”

POSITIVES

— Good size with excellent arm length for an NFL defensive tackle.

— Has the strength at the point of attack to gain control of the block and create stalemates at the line of scrimmage.

— Can lock out guards and get plenty of extension with long arms to help shed blocks when he keeps his hands tight.

— Takes on blocks with a sturdy base and is hard to move with one-on-one base blocks.

— Solid at anticipating double-teams and combo blocks to get skinny and occasionally split the blockers.

NEGATIVES

— Plays with high pad level and lacks explosion off the line of scrimmage to be an effective bull-rusher. 

— Doesn’t use his hands well and isn’t quick-twitched enough to be an effective pass-rusher with finesse moves.

— Hand placement is often wide versus the run, exposing his chest.

— Plays high and struggles to sink his hips to avoid getting washed inside against down blocks.

NOTES

— 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— No major injuries

— 2021; Academic First-Team All-Big 12

— 2020; Academic All-Big 12 rookie team

GRADE: 6.0 (Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 210

POSITION RANK: DL20

PRO COMPARISON: Da’Shawn Hand

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Saints insider Jeff Duncan doesn't believe New Orleans will select Shedeur Sanders with the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

The NOLA.com columnist wrote Tuesday that he doesn't know who the Saints' No. 9 selection will be, but he "can safely say that it won't be Shedeur Sanders."

I'm not sure who the Saints are going to pick at No. 9 on Thursday night. But I think I can safely say that it won't be Shedeur Sanders.

— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) April 22, 2025

Sanders is ranked as the No. 2 quarterback and the No. 23 overall prospect available on Bleacher Report's latest 2025 NFL Draft Big Board.

With Miami quarterback Cam Ward anticipated to hear his name called earlier on Day 1—the latest mock draft by B/R NFL scouts has him going to the Tennessee Titans at No. 1—Sanders could be the highest-rated quarterback available by the time the Saints get on the board.

The Saints are meanwhile heading into the 2025 campaign in need of a quarterback, given the April 11 report by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that Derek Carr is questionable for next season due to a shoulder injury.

Despite the Carr news, ESPN's Adam Schefter has also expressed skepticism the Saints will use the ninth pick to target his replacement.

Schefter noted that, unlike the New York Giants or Cleveland Browns, the Saints sent a limited scouting contingent to Sanders' Colorado pro day that did not include head coach Kellen Moore or offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.

"There is a belief around the league that the Saints are more interested in using a high pick on an offensive or defensive lineman, because there are questions about two starters: tackle Trevor Penning and guard Nick Saldiveri," Schefter wrote Monday. "The belief is they want to draft a quarterback—just maybe not at No. 9, and maybe not Sanders."

The Saints are heading into the draft with nine picks, including four within the top 100. In addition to the ninth selection the New Orleans are picking at No. 40, No. 71 and No. 93.

New Orleans could decide to use one of those later picks to target a lower-tier quarterback like Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, Alabama's Jalen Milroe or Ohio State's Will Howard. Schefter reported that an NFL executive believes the Saints are "hot and heavy" on Dart.

Even though the New Orleans Saints have been heavily connected to quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, they may not end up going in that direction with the No. 9 overall pick.

On the latest episode of The McShay Show (starts at 20:35 mark), Todd McShay explained that offensive tackle or edge-rusher are the two positions in play for the Saints at No. 9.

McShay mentioned Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart as possible options on the edge and Armand Membou at offensive tackle if he's still on the board.

McShay did note the Saints want to add a quarterback "at some point," and he said they prefer Dart over Sanders.

Sanders was a popular pick to New Orleans in the wake of NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reporting on April 11 that Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury that has his availability for the 2025 season up in the air.

B/R's NFL scouting department projected the Saints to trade up with the Las Vegas Raiders for the No. 6 pick to select Sanders.

More recently, though, the connections between Dart and New Orleans have picked up steam. ESPN's Adam Schefter quoted one personnel executive as saying they don't think Sanders will be the Saints' pick because they appear to be "hot and heavy" on Dart.

The Saints might have to trade back into the first round to get Dart, because the quarterback-needy Cleveland Browns and New York Giants own the first two picks in the second round.

SNY's Connor Hughes reported the Giants could also look to move up from No. 33 to draft Dart because head coach Brian Daboll is high on him.

The Browns were said to have significant interest in Dart at one point, but that talk has quieted down as we've gotten closer to the draft. It could come back to the forefront when the event begins on Thursday night.

Either way, it seems like the Saints will have to do some maneuvering late in the first round or early in the second round to have a shot at selecting Dart.

There are few things in the world Saints general manager Mickey Loomis loves more than trading up in the draft, so it won't be a surprise if they end up acquiring a second first-round pick on Thursday night to get a quarterback if they pass on one at No. 9.

The New Orleans Saints selected Louisville CB Quincy Riley with the No. 131 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Riley is a fluid and athletic cornerback with a good blend of size, body control, and twitch. His ball skills and awareness allow him to compete effectively with receivers, but he has room for improvement in zone coverage and consistency in his reactions.

Riley shines when competing for the ball, using his timing, ball skills, and athleticism to high-point throws. He shows quickness and burst out of breaks, but his one-speed running limits his recovery ability when out of position. He has a tendency to hop into transitions, leading to slower reactions and occasional separation by receivers. In zone, he struggles to handle multiple threats and is sometimes caught out of position.

Riley provides minimal impact in run support, largely due to his scheme responsibilities. While he supports the run well from a positioning standpoint, he isn't often in the mix for tackles, which makes his impact against the run somewhat limited.

Quincy Riley projects as a mid-round pick with the potential to develop into a starter later in his career. His athleticism and ball skills give him a strong foundation, but he must improve his speed, reaction times, and zone coverage awareness to make a consistent impact at the next level.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 5'11"

WEIGHT: 194

HAND: 8½”

ARM: 31"

WINGSPAN: 75"

40-YARD DASH: 4.48

POSITIVES

— Fluid athlete with good size and filled out frame. Very good athleticism and body control.

— Flashes the ideal twitch and bursts out of his breaks. Shows the ability to transition and get a jump on the ball.

— Great ball skills, awareness, and timing to compete with receivers. Very good at locating the ball and high pointing.

NEGATIVES

— One-speed runner with limited top-end speed. Lacks the recovery speed necessary when out of position.

— Below average vision in zone coverage. He can get pulled out of position and struggles to play multiple threats in his zone.

— Inconsistent breaking and transitioning. Hops into breaks and can be slow to react to what he sees.

NOTES

— Born May 26, 2001

— 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— 2022: Transfer from Middle Tennessee to Louisville

— 2021: First Team All-Conference USA

— 2020: Conference USA All-Freshman Team

GRADE: 7.1 (High-Level Backup/ Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 97

POSITION RANK: CB13

PRO COMPARISON: Coby Bryant

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

The New Orleans Saints selected Louisville QB Tyler Shough with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Tyler Shough is an intriguing QB prospect with the physical tools and pocket passing ability worthy of buying into. 

Shough throws well from the pocket with velocity, accuracy, and ball placement. He has a good arm and rips throws in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Shough pushes the ball down the field with a flick of the wrist. When his mechanics are aligned, he delivers passes with good pacing and velocity to beat closing defenders. 

If flushed out of the pocket, Shough is an above-average athlete who can create second-reaction throws on the move. He works well rolling to his left, getting his shoulders square and feet underneath him to line up and rip throws with diverse arm angles/slots. Mentally, he flashes the ability to handle full-field reads and work through his progressions out of a clean pocket. Shough has deceptive eyes, pulling defenders out of the frame before ripping the throw. 

However, he does need to become more consistent. Shough’s lower-body mechanics are undisciplined. He has too much trust in his arm strength and does not bring his feet into the throw. That leads to inaccurate and off-target throws. He needs to improve his weight distribution in the pocket when throwing down the field. 

Mentally, I’d like to see more detailed reading of defensive coverages concerning the passing concepts from Shough. He tends to read the low read first in Hi-Lo concepts, leading to turnover-worthy plays because he’s late. Shough’s injury history kept him off the field for much of his college career. He is missing valuable playing experience. 

Overall, Shough possesses the physical tools and upside as a pocket passer to work with and develop. He projects as a primary backup behind an established veteran with starting upside. The talent and potential are there, but he needs more consistency.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 219

HAND: 9¾"

ARM: 30¾"

WINGSPAN: 76½"

40-YARD DASH: 4.63"

VERTICAL: 32"

BROAD: 9'9"

POSITIVES

— Can handle full-field reads and progressions.

— Plus-level arm talent/strength. Can rip throws from multiple bases.

— Above-average athlete. Creates plays with his legs off-schedule.

— Flashes of three-level accuracy and ball placement; developmental upside.

NEGATIVES

— Trusts his arm too often and lacks consistency in bringing his feet into throws.

— Improper weight distribution on downfield targets leads to throws losing steam/dying.

— Limited throwing experience with live reps due to consecutive years of suffering injuries.

— Needs to be consistent with mental processing and decision-making to protect the football.

NOTES

— Born September 28, 1999

— 4-star recruit in 2018 class, per 247Sports

— 2024 Honorable-Mention All-ACC

— Extensive injury history: Broken collarbone (2021), Missed six games due to shoulder injury (2022), Missed rest of the 2023 season due to a broken leg.

GRADE: 7.0 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 113

POSITION RANK: QB7

PRO COMPARISON: A mobile Nick Foles

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson