Tyler Shough may already be breaking contain. The New Orleans Saints potential franchise quarterback felt like the fan base's little secret. Now, he's influencing Fansided's Lou Scataglia to rank the Saints as the second most likely team to breakout and overachieve next year.
This is a little different from what you tend to hear. A Saints breakout tends to be capped at an NFC South title. The only team above the Saints in these rankings is the Dallas Cowboys. We aren't just talking about winning a bad division. The ranking suggests the Saints could become a team to watch in 2026.
"Yet another team that had a rookie quarterback in 2025, the New Orleans Saints are no. 2 in our power rankings, but the Saints were the most impressive of these teams, nearly ending the season on a five-game winning streak. Like Dart and Ward, Tyler Shough played his tail off at times in 2025, and the Saints filled two major offensive holes in free agency with David Edwards and Travis Etienne. The defense also got a lot better and should be a top-10 unit in 2026."
Tyler Shough is the reason for the belief in the Saints
It's clear Scataglia values last year's rookie quarterbacks, as the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans both made the list. The Saints, led by Shough, finished with the highest ranking. That's a product of what's around the quarterback but also a reinforcement of what Shough has shown.
Everything turned around when Shough entered the starting lineup, but that's typically isn't recognized outside of the Saints bubble. For many analysts, there's still a wait and see method applied to him. It's understandable to be hesitant to crown Shough. He only played half the season, and the totality of the Saints' season left them on the outside looking in at the playoff race.
Analysts tend to need to see proof first before stepping out on a limb. Scataglia didn't need that safety net. He saw what Saints fans saw. "Tyler Shough played his tail off at times in 2025." Shough showed the ability to play in and out of structure. When he scrambled, he could run. However, the rookie often showed the poise to keep his eyes up for plays downfield. Even with weapons depleted, Shough still put on impressive performances.
It all starts with the quarterback, so why would the Saints' ranking be any different? Shough has earned the hype. The moves around him suggests the Saints are ready to grow with him. The only surprise is Scataglia is on the hype train earlier than most national voices.
