The New Orleans Saints ended the year with plenty of hope. After looking like one of the worst teams in the NFL, head coach Kellen Moore made the switch at quarterback to rookie Tyler Shough. After this, the Saints began winning games and finished with six wins. Now, the Saints must decide whether Shough did enough to warrant the job, given the stiff competition.
Saints Decide on Potential QB Competition
The Saints are giving the keys to Shough. The Saints are planning to go with Shough as their starting quarterback in 2026, per Adam Schefter. They will likely bring in a new backup instead of Spencer Rattler, but Shough is getting his opportunity.
The Saints spent their second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Shough ahead of quarterbacks like Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. It is shaping up to be a great move, as they may have found their face of the franchise in the draft. He’s been what they drafted him for.
After only playing half the season, Shough is in Offensive Rookie of the Year conversations. He impressed in his limited action and earned the opportunity to be the guy next season. He ranks 23rd in PFSN’s QB Impact score with a grade of 73.9.
The New Orleans Saints are preparing to move ahead with Tyler Shough as their starting quarterback in 2026.
Story via @Kat_Terrell:https://t.co/XbLix43q6c
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2026
The Saints were reviewing mock drafts for a new quarterback after an atrocious start to the season. Shough made the future much brighter. The Saints have a building block on offense and helped Chris Olave blossom into one of the best receivers in the entire NFL.
The Saints looked like the best team in the weak NFC South as the season came to an end, but the early-season damage was already done.
The NFC South is full of teams that are mediocre at best. The Panthers won the division with a losing record and will likely have a tough time in the first round of the postseason, despite being the higher seed. If no team gets considerably better, the division is there for the taking for New Orleans.
It’s time for the Saints to capitalize while the rest of the division is within striking distance. The Buccaneers catastrophically finished the season, the Falcons remain average at best, and the Panthers barely squeaked into the playoffs. Shough won’t have to worry about someone taking his job, as Moore and the Saints brass are sticking by Shough to lead them back to glory.
