It’s been over two months since the 2025 NFL Draft ended, and only two of the 32 second-round picks have signed a contract. Among the 30 who haven’t signed yet is New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, who will spend training camp competing with second-year pro Spencer Rattler to start in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.
With Shough nearly being a starter, what’s causing the delay? In a recent interview, the rookie quarterback broke his silence about the situation, and it appears there isn’t much to worry about.
New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough Reveals Why He Hasn’t Signed His Rookie Contract Yet
Nearly all of the first-round rookies have signed their contracts. However, the only two second-round picks who have signed are Jayden Higgins of the Houston Texans and Carson Schwesinger of the Cleveland Browns, both of whom reportedly got fully guaranteed deals.
NFL RUMORS: #Saints Tyler Shough wants a 4-year guaranteed contract, which is holding up negotiations. pic.twitter.com/tmY4lnyCOw
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) June 22, 2025
Fully guaranteed deals for second-round picks weren’t common in the past, and they’re an emerging trend, which is what Shough and other rookies could be demanding. Higgins and Schwesinger were picked 33rd and 34th overall, respectively, and Shough is likely to see what others get before putting pen to paper.
“The whole second round, [we’re] just seeing kind of where things lie,” Shough told NOLA.com in a recent interview. “There’s not like a demand, or obviously, you’re super optimistic. That’s just part of it, this whole process, so yeah, we’ll see.”
Shough has been impressive through the Saints’ OTAs and minicamp, and hasn’t shown a reason not to deserve a fully guaranteed deal like Higgins and Schwesinger.
He is not your typical NFL rookie at 25, either. Shough and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown attended high school together. Still, while the latter is entering his fifth year in the NFL, Shough is entering his first, and this vast experience likely motivated the Saints to take him in the second round.
Shough played for three schools over seven years in college, finishing at Louisville in 2024. He backed up Los Angeles Chargers signal-caller Justin Herbert at Oregon for his first two years, but injuries kept him from playing a full season until he arrived at Louisville.
He posted 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2024 and parlayed that performance into becoming the No. 40 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. New Orleans took Shough, hoping he’d eventually replace veteran quarterback Derek Carr.
That opportunity came faster than expected when Carr retired in May due to a torn labrum and degenerative rotator cuff changes. Shough has now been handed the keys to the Saints’ offense, which is looking to rebound after a disappointing 2024 season when Carr was sidelined multiple times and the franchise finished 5-12.
New head coach Kellen Moore and Shough represent the most significant changes to the Saints’ offense heading into 2025. Moore showed his belief in Shough by selecting him early in the second round, and now it’s up to the rookie to deliver on that investment. While contract negotiations have delayed his official start, both sides are expected to finalize a deal before preseason begins in August, clearing the way for Shough to focus on his first NFL season.
