Former Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough is getting some love in the upcoming NFL Draft as one of the top quarterbacks available. Some experts project him as one of the first five quarterbacks to come off the board.
There are, however, legitimate concerns about Shough’s viability as a pro signal-caller.
NFL Analyst Questions Hype Around QB Tyler Shough Ahead of 2025 NFL Draft
While he has some of the intangibles – like accuracy, smooth release arm strength, and the ability to throw “the deep ball with ease” – there’s one thing Shough can’t help: His age.
Shough began his collegiate career at Oregon in 2018, where he began as the backup to Justin Herbert. He started in 2020 for a Ducks team that went 4-3.
He transferred to Texas Tech in 2021 and earned the starting job. However, in the team’s fourth game, he was lost for the year after breaking his collarbone. Injuries limited Shough to seven games in 2022, although the Red Raiders were 5-0 in games in which he started. An ankle injury curtailed his 2023 season as well, playing in just four games, although Texas Tech was just 1-3 this time in those contests.
Shough then played one season with Louisville, boosting his draft stock by completing 62.7% of his passes for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns with only six interceptions.
Born Sept. 28, 1999, Shough is, as Fox’s Colin Cowherd pointed out, “older than [Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback] Trevor Lawrence.” Lawrence, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft, was born eight days after Shough.
“Don’t get it,” Cowherd said of Shough. “Too many injuries in college. Big kid who can throw it … a little overvalued to me.”
Of these six notable QBs in the NFL Draft class, who are the stars or sleepers? 🤔 @colincowherd gives his thoughts ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/lwQof7q3se
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 14, 2025
History appears to be on Cowherd’s side on this one.
According to ESPN Stats and Information, as of the 2022 NFL Draft, only eight QBs 25 or older were selected. Three more were taken in the 2023 NFL Draft — Stetson Bennett IV (third round), Jaren Hall (fifth round), and Hendon Hooker (fourth round). Previously, only John Beck, Brandon Weeden, and Chris Weinke were aged 25 and taken in the first five rounds.
It’s not like any of the above names will see their busts in Canton, Ohio. In fact, most were just busts. Beck played in nine games from 2007-11. Weeden, who went No. 22 overall, had 31 TDs and 30 INTs in 35 career games from 2012 to 2018.
Weinke, who won the Heisman Trophy, started 15 games as a rookie in 2001 for Carolina when he was 29 and threw 19 picks with only 11 touchdowns. He played only 14 more games in his career, which stretched to 2007.
For any team that decides to select Shough, it might be a case of buyer beware.