The New Orleans Saints selected Tyler Shough in the second round of the 2025 Draft, and it was a heavily criticized move. Shough was a polarizing quarterback prospect, and many people argued that New Orleans was reaching on the quarterback. However, after Shough’s rookie season, the narrative has changed to: the Saints have found their quarterback.
With this new outlook on the young quarterback, analysts are discussing the strategy that goes into selecting a QB early in the draft. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky recently took to social media to emphasize the value of taking a quarterback in round one, because of the extra year of team control that franchises get for first-round picks.
To make his point, Orlovsky said the New York Giants are probably really happy that they traded into the first round to snag Jaxson Dart, and argued that New Orleans is probably wishing it did the same for Shough.
There’s a ton of time left on young careers—but as we sit here today, I would bet the Giants are very happy they got back into round 1 to get Dart and the Saints had wish they did that for Shough.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 31, 2026
Having the 5th year option is huge at QB.
Dan Orlovsky argues Saints will regret not drafting Tyler Shough in first round, because of fifth-year option
The former quarterback acknowledged that it’s still extremely early in these young quarterback’s career, but based on the expectations that they are both the answer at quarterback for their respective franchises, the fifth-year option, or lack thereof, could be a factor down the road.
Every first-round pick’s rookie contract has a fifth-year team option, that franchises decide to pick up or not. Having the option delays when a team has to start paying a player their second contract, and for starting quarterbacks, that means a significant increase in salary — which affects team building.
If Dart and Shough both pan out for New York and New Orleans, the Giants will pick up their quarterback’s fifth-year option, and an extension won’t kick in until the 2030 season. The Saints, on the other hand, will likely have to extend Shough after the 2027 season, and his new deal would start in 2029 — a year earlier than first round picks.
Of course, if the Saints could go back, and make a feasible trade up to the first round to select Tyler Shough, they’d absolutely consider it. But you can’t redo the draft. Teams have to live with their results and it’s safe to say New Orleans is really happy with its outcome. Even if the Saints have to pay Shough a year earlier than his peers, it’s a price New Orleans wouldn’t mind since it would mean the team found a quarterback.