Tyler Shough is often connected to Jaxson Dart. For some reason, New York Giants fans have made it a point to stress that their rookie is better than the New Orleans Saints' rookie quarterback. Metrics of how are uncertain, but the comparisons will continue. Shough is also linked to first overall pick Cam Ward, and sort of Shedeur Sanders due to all being picked in the same draft class.
In many ways, Shough is the underdog of the group. He wasn't a first round pick, and he wasn't the biggest story of the draft. He was a selection that was questioned and laughed at at the time. Through one year, he's been the best of the bunch.
CBS Sports' Jared Dublin gave a burning question for many of the top picks from the 2025 NFL Draft going into Year 2. For Shough, he asked a simple but important question. Can Tyler Shough show he's a franchise quarterback? It's this question that separates him from his peers.
Tyler Shough and Saints are both clearly doing something right
Being a franchise quarterback is often a combination of many factors, but it most simply comes down to player and team. You have some franchise quarterbacks stuck on bad teams, but most times both aspects need to hit for a player to fall into the franchise quarterback category.
The fact that Shough's question is whether or not he could become a franchise quarterback is confirmation of the player and the team moving in the right direction. When it came to Dart, Dublin questioned his play style. Dart had injuries last year that Dublin attributed to a reckless style of play. He also questioned Dart's ability to play within structure, opposed to needing the play to break down for success.
For Ward, Dublin wanted to know if the Titans did enough to support him. They added a pair of receivers, but the question is on the offensive line. Ward was running for his life a year ago. Even with improved weapons, poor protection limits his ceiling.
The Saints don't have questions on roster or quarterback play style. Shough showed a lot of promise last year. Year 2 will be about making that next step, rather than a sophomore slump. Like Dublin pointed out, Shough was putting things together at the end of his rookie campaign.
If Shough continues down that path, the talent is clear. The Saints built up the receiving talent with young players, and made prominent additions offensive line and running back room. Dublin acknowledges the talent of Shough and the supporting cast around him. The only thing left is confirmation. But it shows Shough and the Saints are at least a step ahead of his contemporaries.
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