Apparently Tyler Shough hasn't done enough to push the New Orleans Saints out of the quarterback sweepstakes in the eyes of Pete Thamel. The college football expert laid out the 10 teams that will place a premium on scouting the first round draft picks due to having an immediate need at the position. Somehow the Saints fit that mold.
Along with the Saints, Thamel named the Browns, Dolphins, Cardinals, Vikings, Colts, Steelers, Jets, Falcons and Seahawks as teams in this category. He specified that the Seahawks are included because of Darnold's age and contract, but every other team is on the list because of performance.
When looking at most of the teams on the list for performance based reasons, it doesn't even require much explanation. The Vikings are in a one year prove it with Kyler Murray that feels boom or bust, and the rest of the group are teams who are pessimistic about their quarterback situation or have clear questions about 2027. The Saints don't fit in either category.
Saints absolutely needing a quarterback makes no sense
Shough is a young quarterback who has inspired much more optimism than pessimism. It's reasonable to still need more than 10 starts to feel conviction in saying the Saints have their guy, but those 10 starts was enough for Thamel to write him off.
It all comes back to draft placement, because this wouldn't be said about Shough if he was a first round pick. There was a cloud of doubt over Shough when he was drafted, and it can take a lot to beat a predisposed opinion.
What about his 10 games screams immediate need at quarterback? Shough was the runner up in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race. One game into Year 2, he bounced back from a shaky first half to finish with the most yards in the league and multiple highlight worthy throws.
Once again allowing room for hesitancy, Thamel also included a group of teams who may or may not be in the market depending on how this season goes. That group included the Ravens, Titans, Panthers, Texans and Eagles.
The Saints are closer to this group than the former in terms of quarterback situation. The first group was full of teams who are more likely than not going to have new starting quarterbacks next year, and the second group are teams that could go either way but will likely retain their starter.
It's one thing for Thamel to have questions on Shough, but to say the Saints have an immediate need at quarterback doesn't have much merit. All signs point to Shough putting the Saints on the other side of that coin. If this many teams need quarterbacks and there's genuinely 5-6 first round talents, however, it could benefit the Saints in the long run.
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