Saints set Kellen Moore up for failure with disappointing Tyler Shough pick

The New Orleans Saints were one of many teams that were expected to take a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, with Colorado's Shedeur Sanders still on the board, Mickey Loomis made a move that could already put Kellen Moore in a tough situation due to how polarizing it is.

With the No. 40 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Saints selected Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough. This caps off a meteoric rise for Shough, who started his college journey in 2018 and will turn 26 in the middle of his rookie season. In a few months, Shough went from a Day 3 lottery ticket to a Top 50 selection.

Unless Moore is able to put Shough into the starting lineup immediately and put together an offense that will get the rest of the league scared of them amid Derek Carr's injury woes, Loomis may have put him in a very precarious situation.

Saints take huge risk with Tyler Shough pick in 2025 NFL Draft

Shough was hurt often during his career at Oregon and Texas Tech, even losing his starting job on one occasion. He transferred to Louisville to give the pros one last shot, and he certainly did not end up disappointing.

Shough, who stands all of 6-5 and 220 pounds, threw for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions. However, there are concerns about his lack of great mobility outside the pocket, age (he will be 30 when he is trying to earn a second contract), and poor history of durability.

Shough is the type of player who will either get Moore extended or fired. The Carr injury could force him to play right away, which could lead to him either dazzling in Moore's high-octane offense or struggling with the speed of the professional game.

Like it or not, Shough is in town for Moore and Loomis. The Saints may have stumbled into a franchise quarterback, but it is more than fair to worry about the pitfalls associated with him.