Tyler Shough has outplayed Cam Ward, looks like the Saints’ long-term solution at QB

If you had predicted before the season that New Orleans Saints second-round pick Tyler Shough would outplay No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, people would have assumed you had taken a serious hit to the head. Yet, with two games left in the season, that is exactly what has happened.

Shough has taken New Orleans from a team that looked destined to draft a quarterback in the first round to one that appears to have a legitimate long-term answer at the position. The contrast with Ward has been stark. Ward has looked lost at times in the pocket, his team sits at 3–12, and the situation around him feels like the early stages of a full rebuild.

Why Tyler Shough has changed the Saints’ outlook

Shough, meanwhile, has been one of the more impressive rookies this season. The Saints are riding a three-game win streak that will likely become four when they face the Titans and Ward this week. More importantly, the team looks stable at quarterback, something that did not seem possible entering the year.

In seven starts, Shough has completed 69 percent of his passes and shown the traits that made him an intriguing draft prospect. He throws with touch, delivers a very catchable ball, and stays composed in structure. His numbers would look even better with competent help. Saints receivers have dropped 12 of his passes, and upgrading the receiving corps will be a clear priority in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Shough also has the arm strength to push the ball downfield. He has not been asked to make many high-difficulty vertical throws, but that is more a function of personnel than limitation. If New Orleans adds a dynamic weapon, possibly someone like Georgia’s Zachariah Branch on Day 2, this part of his game should become more visible. Add in his mobility at 6-foot-5, and you get a quarterback who can move the pocket, execute sprint-out concepts, and pick up yards when plays break down.

There are still concerns. Shough had a history of forcing throws in college, throwing 20 touchdowns to 11 interceptions at Texas Tech before transferring to Louisville. That tendency has shown up at times in the NFL, where he has four touchdowns and three interceptions, though he has been clean over his last two games. His injury history is also real and cannot be ignored. The Saints need a quality backup behind him.

None of that changes the big picture. Shough has proven this season that no quarterback New Orleans will realistically be in position to draft is a better long-term option. He is not perfect, but he is clearly ahead of schedule and far ahead of Cam Ward right now. The Saints finally look like they have stability at quarterback, and that matters more than hype or draft status.