The 2025 NFL Draft was a bit of a rollercoaster for the New Orleans Saints. They addressed needs effectively, but they also surprised some fans in round two by picking Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough.
Saints legend Archie Manning recently talked about Kellen Moore's decision to take a chance on the veteran QB prospect.
Archie Manning discusses Tyler Shough pick
On the radio waves with Mike Detillier and Bobby Hebert (WWL Radio) this week, Manning made it clear that he supported the selection by New Orleans. There's risk involved, but he thinks Shough is prepared for this opportunity in the pros.
"This is a tough thing with the Saints. We don’t know what’s going to happen at the quarterback position."
"If he happened to be thrown out there, he’s better prepared than most. It’s a tough transition, I don’t care how old you are or how much football you’ve played, it’s a huge step, but I think he’s very qualified and I absolutely love the pick. I thought the pick was just fantastic.”
-- Archie Manning via Jeff Nowak
Shough is an older prospect. That is well-documented, as he will be 26 years old as a rookie. He'll have to earn his starting spot, but there is a legitimate chance that's the Week 1 QB for Kellen Moore, depending on the outcome of the Derek Carr situation.
Furthermore alongside Manning, Shough became the first QB selected by the Saints in round one or two of the NFL Draft since Archie in 1971. Shough has been in communication with the legendary QB throughout the process as well.
"[Archie has] been a great support system, and he’s great with all the quarterbacks. He’s super involved, which is kind of cool.” -- Shough
No matter what - Shough is getting a brand new opportunity to prove himself following three season-ending injuries during his college career. We will see if he can navigate himself to a successful NFL career, and in turn, plenty of wins for New Orleans.
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