The New Orleans Saints pulled off an upset on Sunday, taking down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-20 in Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season at Raymond James Stadium. Here’s the biggest overreaction from this weekend’s
matchup:
Saints pass on a quarterback in the 2026 draft.
Tyler Shough delivered another promising performance on Sunday, further strengthening the case that the Saints shouldn’t draft a quarterback in 2026. It was encouraging to see him duke it out with Baker Mayfield on the road and ultimately come out on top—especially considering the less than ideal weather conditions.
Shough completed 13 of 20 passes (65%) for 144 yards and rushed for 55 yards on seven attempts, along with two touchdowns on the ground. His 55 rushing yards set a franchise record by a rookie quarterback, and his 34-yard score marked the longest rushing touchdown by a Saints QB aside from Taysom Hill. His performance earned an overall grade of 83.7 from Pro Football Focus, the third highest on the team and highest of his career so far.
With his two rushing touchdowns, the 26-year-old became just the second rookie QB in franchise history to record multiple rushing TDs in a game—and the first since Archie Manning against the Dallas Cowboys in 1971.
Among five rookies with at least 100 dropbacks this season, Shough now ranks first in completion percentage (65.2%), third in yards per attempt (6.8), second in average depth of target (8.8), first in adjusted completion percentage (76.9%), second in time to throw (2.77 seconds) and second in passer rating (81.6).
If I’m the Saints, I’m not drafting a QB in the upcoming NFL draft. They reportedly had a first-round grade on Tyler Shough through the previous draft process, and he’s clearly proven why.
One of the biggest concerns coming out of college was Shough’s pocket presence and ability to handle pressure, yet it’s been one of his biggest strengths. He credited the scout team for improving his pocket presence and preparing him for his opportunity. His third-down conversions in critical situations have also emerged as a strength—something that was a major concern for New Orleans not too long ago.
His lone interception came on a miscommunication with Chris Olave—similar to his INT against the Miami Dolphins last week—as Olave ran a comeback route while Shough threw a go ball. However, the rookie showed maturity and leadership as he took accountability in his postgame press conference and credited Olave for his effort throughout the game.
To put Shough’s first five starts in perspective, here’s how they compare to 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen’s first five starts during his 2018 rookie season:
Allen: 69-for-124 (55.6%), 758 yards, two TDs, five INTs; 31 carries, 129 yards, three TDs; 2–3 record
Shough: 103-for-152 (67.8%), 1,084 yards, five TDs, five INTs; 25 carries, 94 yards, two TDs; 2–3 record
