The New Orleans Saints were ripped by fans around the league for their deicsion to use the No. 40 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough. One year later, it looks like many of the fans who were chuckling at that decision are being forced to eat their words.
Shough, who took over the QB1 job from Spencer Rattler in the middle of the season, not only performed better from a statistical point of view, but he also helped the Saints win four of their final five games to close out the year.
Shough was rewarded for his performance this year, as fans bestowed upon him the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Year Award. Shough was thought to be in competition with Tennessee Titans No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward for the honor, but he has come out on top.
The Saints went from a directionless team many thought would challenge for the worst record in the league to an up-and-coming young squad hellbent on making some noise in the NFC South, and no one player has had a more direct hand in that turnaround than Shough in his first season under Kellen Moore.
Saints QB Tyler Shough wins Pepsi Rookie of the Year
Shough, who turned 26 in the middle of his rookie year, completed 67.6% of his passes while throwing for 2,384 yards and 10 touchdowns against six interceptions. Shough also ran for three more touchdowns despite not coming into the NFL with a reputation as a tremendous playmaker with his legs.
Those numbers came on a Saints team that had perhaps the worst collection of pass-catchers in the NFL when Chris Olave is removed from the equation, and an interior offensive line that started to fall apart. With a year under his belt, Shough and the Saints could be feared in the wide-open NFC South.
Since 2014, every non-quarterback who has won this award has eventually made an All-Pro team. Some of the quarterbacks who have taken home this accomplishment include Los Angeles' Justin Herbert, Dallas' Dak Prescott, and Washington's Jayden Daniels. Not bad company for Shough.
Shough needs to prove he can put together a full season of solid play and elevate talent around him, but if he continues to develop under the watchful eye of Kellen Moore, there is no reason why he shouldn't be one of the premier young quarterbacks in the game.