When the New Orleans Saints selected Tyler Shough in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the move was met with mixed reactions. Some questioned the value of taking a 25-year-old quarterback with a checkered injury history, while others saw a high-upside athlete with untapped potential. But as the dust settles from the draft weekend, one question looms larger than ever: Does Tyler Shough fit new head coach Kellen Moore’s system better than expected?
A Surprising Fit on the Surface
Kellen Moore has developed a reputation as one of the NFL’s most creative young minds, helping quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts thrive in systems emphasizing rhythm, timing, and vertical aggression. His offenses are predicated on high-efficiency throws, decisive reads, and the ability to stretch the field horizontally and vertically. At first glance, it’s easy to assume Shough, who bounced between three schools and struggled to stay healthy, might be more of a project than a plug-and-play fit. But a deeper dive tells a different story.
The Physical Tools Match the Scheme
Shough stands at 6’5 “, 225 pounds, with the arm talent to attack all areas of the field. He consistently demonstrated velocity on deep outs and vertical seams during his final season at Louisville, finishing the year with 3,195 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions. These traits make him an ideal candidate for Moore’s downfield concepts, especially the boot-action and play-action deep shots Moore often dials up off wide-zone runs.
Moore’s system thrives in creating space—spacing in routes, spacing in play-action, and spacing in the pocket. Shough has shown the ability to operate efficiently in these environments when given time. His footwork still needs refining, but his raw mechanics and athletic base make him a viable option on rollouts and designed bootlegs—key staples in Moore’s playbook.
More: Saints Prioritize Defense in 2025 Draft: How It Compares to Early Projections
Mobility Adds a New Dimension
Unlike Derek Carr, who is a true pocket passer, Shough brings a level of athleticism that allows Moore to expand his playbook. During his final year at Louisville, Shough was willing to move the pocket and run when necessary. He isn’t a dual-threat quarterback by definition. Still, his athleticism allows him to convert broken plays into positive gains, something Moore capitalized on with Prescott and Herbert in years past.
The boot-action game could become a primary asset for Shough. His ability to throw on the run, especially to his right, allows Moore to build in deception and keep defenses guessing. That added mobility means fewer forced throws under pressure and a greater likelihood of generating off-script plays—a critical component in today’s NFL.
Decision-Making: Still a Work in Progress
Despite his impressive physical tools, Shough isn’t a finished product. He still has room to improve decision-making, particularly pre-snap reads and adjusting to disguised coverages. Kellen Moore’s offense mentally asks many of its quarterbacks—timing throws, quick decisions, and post-snap adaptability. Shough will need time to fully master these elements, especially if he’s thrust into action early due to Derek Carr’s injury concerns.
But what he does have is the arm strength and courage to take those throws, even if he’s a beat late. When paired with Moore’s ability to simplify reads and create “layered” passing windows, that aggressiveness could unlock a version of Shough that few saw during his turbulent college career.
The Saints’ Bet on Upside
In many ways, selecting Tyler Shough is a classic Saints move. It echoes past swings on mid-round quarterbacks like Ian Book but has a significantly higher athletic upside. This time, however, the Saints may have landed a player whose traits align almost perfectly with the offensive coordinator’s philosophy.
Shough might not have the hype of a Shedeur Sanders or the pedigree of a Jalen Milroe, but with Moore tailoring the playbook around his strengths, the fit could end up better than initially projected. His arm strength and mobility are tailor-made for vertical route concepts and play-action deception, and if he can grow into the mental side of the game, he could evolve into more than just a backup plan.
Bottom Line:
While Tyler Shough may not have been the quarterback Saints fans expected, he could be the one who fits best within Kellen Moore’s evolving system. It’s a low-risk, high-reward scenario that could redefine the Saints’ future at quarterback.
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