Quarterback Tyler Shough’s smooth delivery and arm strength, paired with his throwing velocity, are the highlights of his draft profile entering the 2025 NFL Draft. The New Orleans Saints clearly liked what they saw, as they selected Shough over Shedeur Sanders in the second round.
A bit older than the other players entering the 2025 NFL Draft, here’s how his distinctive qualities will help him stand out — or could turn into areas he needs to improve.
How Tall Is Tyler Shough?
Shough is 6’5″, on the taller side as compared to the average QB height of 6’0″.
If brought along carefully by the team that drafts him, his height could be a clear advantage for his throwing abilities, given his acumen in that department.
How Much Does Shough Weigh?
Shough weighs 219 pounds, which falls under the average QB weight range.
How Old Is Shough?
Born on September 28, 1999, Shough is currently 25 years old. This makes him an older QB in the class, given that most rookies fall between the age of 22-24.
Which School Did Shough Go To?
An Arizona native, Shough attended Hamilton High School. Following a blockbuster varsity career, Shough became a consensus four-star pro-style quarterback, receiving multiple scholarships from top schools like Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, South Carolina, and Indiana.
After an initial verbal commitment to North Carolina, the QB signed with Oregon, where he redshirted his freshman year. After another season, Shough entered the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining.
He transferred to Texas Tech for two seasons, where he was named the starter and suffered an injury in 2023. Shough later transferred to Louisville in 2024 for his remaining year of college eligibility, where he won the Comeback Player of the Year after a great season.
Revisiting Shough’s College Career
Shough redshirted his freshman year with Oregon after playing three games, and he served as a backup QB for the rest of the season.
Head coach Mario Cristobal named him the starter the next season, and Shough led his team to a conference title win against USC. His confidence crashed in the following games, though, leading him to transfer to Texas Tech.
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There, he had to compete for the starting position in an intense QB battle. He later broke his collarbone during the season. After spending two more years at Texas Tech, the QB transferred to Louisville for his final season.
There, he finished his season with 3,195 yards, ranking No. 14 in FBS for total yards, and 23 touchdowns, tying for 22nd in FBS.
How Fast Did Shough Complete His 40-Yard Dash?
The QB blazed through his 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds.
NFL Outlook And Scouting Report
Shough is arguably the most intriguing prospect in this draft class. If he were 22 years old with a clean bill of health, he would likely be in the conversation alongside Cam Ward at the top of the draft — potentially even making a case as QB1.
Shough is the type of prospect who will generate widely varying evaluations across NFL teams. Some will rank him highly, while others will have him lower on their board, and some may remove him from consideration entirely due to concerns over his medical history. This unpredictability is precisely what makes him the most intriguing prospect in the draft class.
Teams likely struggled to justify investing significant draft capital in Shough at 25 years old, as they won’t have the same runway to develop him or build around him compared to younger quarterbacks in this class.
Having faced adversity multiple times, Shough has consistently come out stronger. Adjusting to a new organization and offensive system won’t be anything new for him — it’s just part of his journey.
The Saints ultimately opted to select Shough over Sanders early in the second round. One could argue he deserves to be in the same conversation as Ward. However, his talent cannot be evaluated in isolation.
External factors, such as his age and injury history, play a significant role in his draft stock. These are crucial considerations when selecting the leader of your organization. Clearly, New Orleans like what they saw and he looks to be the Saints’ QB of the future.
