The New Orleans Saints didn’t wait long on Day 2 of the NFL Draft to invest in a quarterback they hope can lead their future.
With the 40th overall pick, the Saints selected Tyler Shough. Over the past seven seasons, the quarterback played for Oregon, Texas Tech, and finally emerged at Louisville as a super senior, passing for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns.
After the draft, Saints fans got a firsthand look at Shough’s passion as he sent a message that fans and teammates won’t soon forget.
Tyler Shough Delivers Passionate Post-Draft Promise to New Teammates
Days after hearing his name called, Shough posted a raw and emotional eight-word vow to his new teammates on Instagram: “I will die on that field for y’all.”
The pledge was part of a longer message filled with determination and grit. “God’s timing. If it was easy, everyone would do it. New Orleans, you will get everything out of me. I will die on that field for y’all. WHO DAT.”
Shough, a 6’5″, 219-pound passer, was drafted ahead of bigger names like Jalen Milroe, Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers, and Dillon Gabriel. The Saints loved his toughness, arm strength, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The city of New Orleans has long embodied resilience, and Shough’s history of playing through pain — including multiple collarbone injuries and a broken fibula — mirrors the toughness that defines the franchise.
A four-star recruit coming out of high school, Shough began his college career at Oregon before transferring to Texas Tech. There, he showed flashes of NFL potential, especially late in his final season before transferring to Louisville. Known for standing tall under pressure and playing through injuries, he earned praise from coaches for his resilience and football IQ.
The Saints head into training camp with uncertainty at the quarterback position. Veteran starter Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury and was limited to just 10 games during the 2024 season. Backups Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener are largely untested, leaving the door wide open for Shough to compete sooner than expected.
Drafting Shough at No. 40 marks the first time the Saints have taken a quarterback this high, in a standard draft, since selecting Archie Manning second overall in 1971. Even though Carr is still under contract, the Saints have an eye on the future at quarterback.
Shough may not have been the most talked-about quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he landed in a good situation with the Saints. If he lives up to his bold promise, New Orleans didn’t just draft a quarterback — they found a true competitor ready to leave it all on the field. WHO DAT, indeed.