For New Orleans Saints fans who wanted to bury their heads under a rock when the team selected seventh-year senior quarterback Tyler Shough out of Louisville, there is a ray of hope.
In theory, Shough did not get selected that high for no reason. And, the Saints weren't the only ones projecting Shough to be a Day 2 pick. So, was it really that much of a surprise?
Besides, New Orleans was already in a bind at quarterback in light of the Derek Carr injury situation. It was either Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener, if not Carr, and neither one of those necessarily inspired much confidence.
By that same sentiment, it already appears as though Shough has the inside track on the starting job.
An NFL executive just put Spencer Rattler's future with the Saints in doubt
For fans wanting to give Rattler a chance at the starting gig after limited opportunity as a rookie, don't hold your breath.
According to a report viaThe Athletic, one NFL executive would be shocked if Shough didn't take over the starting job in the midst of Carr's injury.
As if a second-round billing, for Shough, wasn't already enough to throw Rattler's future in doubt, that opinion is pretty damning.
Rattler was once a first-round type of prospect before he fell hard, and it wasn't even completely due to character questions. As he showed during a short period of time as a rookie, Rattler has plenty to improve upon.
In Shough, the Saints are in fact getting a fairly pro-ready quarterback. Injury concerns are real after he saw three-straight collegiate seasons come to an early end. But, his lone year with Louisville put a healthy campaign on display and showed NFL scouts everything they needed to see.
Clearly, the Saints weren't going to miss this opportunity, especially with the roster in such a financial bind. This team needs an answer at quarterback, and Mickey Loomis took his shot.
Should Shough not end up working out, you can bet fans will look back on this second-round pick as a huge swing and miss. But, at least Loomis opted to take a big swing rather than banking on Rattler or Haener.
Will Shough end up the Saints' starter for Week 1? Only time will tell, but right now, it's looking promising.