The New Orleans Saints may have been able to put together some scrappy performances with Spencer Rattler under center, but his recent regression to the mean finally led Kellen Moore to begin (in earnest) the career of former second-round draft pick Tyler Shough.
Despite a somewhat encouraging start to the season, Rattler had turned the ball over four times in his last three halves of football. With the Saints having invested a top-40 pick in Shough in the 2025 NFL Draft, Moore thought that it was high time for the 26-year-old rookie to see what he can do.
Things did not start off wonderfully for Shough on his first drive. Right after the Saints had a would-be fumble from wide receiver Rashid Shaheed overturned on replay, Shough was picked off by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. after a throw that hit wide receiver Chris Olave right in the hands.
Shough will obviously have much higher moments in the NFL, but he'll only get one chance to make a first impression on a skeptical fanbase, and he seems to have failed in that regard after giving the ball away against a divisional rival.
Saints QB Tyler Shough throws interception on first drive after Spencer Rattler benching
Shough, who transferred away from Oregon and Texas Tech after injuries and poor play, drew praise for his strong arm, surprising mobility for someone his size, and penchant for making tight window throws. However, Saints fans saw some concerning red flags coming up.
Shough's accuracy will come and go, he can make some ill-advised decisions from trusting his arm too much, and he isn't the best at avoiding pressure in the pocket when he doesn't release the ball. All of those things may make this offense worst to watch when he is in charge than it was when Rattler was in there.
Given Shough's outlier age for a rookie quarterback, Saints fans shouldn't necessarily expect him to be more of a developmental project. Shough was in the same recruiting class as Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, both of whom are in their fifth years as starters. He isn't a raw ball of clay for Moore to develop.
Shough turning the ball over in the same way Rattler has during the last few games is not a very encouraging sign for Saints fans, as the team's recent poor run of form might be enough to help send them back down to No. 1 overall pick territory.