The New Orleans Saints are putting plenty of responsibility on Tyler Shough as he enters his second NFL season. When speaking to the media at the team's pre-training camp press conference, general manager Mickey Loomis didn't downplay how important Shough's development will be to the team's success. In fact, Loomis might've even placed more pressure on the QB's performance.
Shough organized offseason workouts with teammates on the West Coast, showing off his leadership — something that New Orleans wants from its starting QB. His approach left an impression on Loomis and the front office.
“One thing about Tyler that I think we’ve discovered pretty quickly is that he’s very intentional,” Loomis said. “He’s very mature, and he too has a plan for
things, and not afraid to ask questions, not afraid to get assistance, and not afraid to dive in with the intention of, ‘Hey, I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to get better.’”
Drafted in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, Shough didn't enter his rookie season as the bona fide starting quarterback. That changed midway through the season. He played in 11 games, completing 67.6 percent of his 327 pass attempts for 2,384 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, while giving the Saints a sliver of the success that they have long hoped for in the post-Drew Brees era. For Loomis, it's clear just how closely the Saints' ceiling is connected to Shough.
“It’s a race for him to improve because we’re gonna go as far as he can take us,” Loomis added.
While Shough only had the 11-game, nine-start sample size to show the Saints that he's capable of being a future starting quarterback, it's his work since then that has reinforced the organization's confidence in him. Loomis said the biggest developments have come away from the physical side of playing such an important position.
“I would say yes,” Loomis answered when asked whether the offseason further cemented what the Saints saw last year. “I think a lot of it has to do with the intangible part of it more than the tangible part.”
The Saints need multiple young players to improve if they hope to make the jump from six wins to competing for the NFC South. No individual leap, however, will be more crucial than the one they're hoping and anticipating from Shough.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Mickey Loomis: Saints will go as far as Tyler Shough can take us
