Ranking Tyler Shough's Best 2025 NFL Draft Landing Spots

The 2025 NFL draft is shaping up to be fascinating, especially when it comes to quarterbacks. Miami's Cam Ward is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, but the quarterback class isn't viewed as a great one in general.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, at least one team doesn't have a first-round grade on any quarterback prospects in this year's class. Another team believes that Ward would have been the seventh-ranked quarterback in last year's class, Schefter added.

The NFL has a supply-and-demand issue at quarterback, so Ward won't be the only signal-caller drafted highly. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Mississippi's Jaxson Dart could also be drafted on Day 1, while Louisville's Tyler Shough looms as the ultimate draft-day wild card.

Shough will turn 26 in September and experienced several injuries during his college career. Yet according to Schefter, some teams have him as their top-rated quarterback entering draft week.

For Shough to be successful in the NFL, he'll need to land in the right situation. With that in mind, we've ranked the top five landing spots for the former Cardinals star in the 2025 draft.

Opinions on Shough May Vary

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Tyler Shough

Before we dive into potential landing spots for Shough, it's worth examining why he may be a polarizing prospect and what he'll need to succeed in the NFL.

The biggest concerns with Shough are his age, injury history and poor play under pressure.

"He plays with good field vision, using his eyes to hold defenders and set up his throwing windows," NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. "Shough is confident and accurate when protected, but will flinch when pressure mounts, leading to spotty decision-making and big sacks."

Shough suffered multiple injuries during his seven-year, three-program college career, including a broken collarbone and a broken fibula. He's also older than most draft prospects and could be 30 by the end of his rookie deal.

According to Schefter, "some teams view his age and experience as a positive."

Shough's size (6'5", 219 lbs) and arm talent also make him one of the best pure passers in the 2025 class. One NFL head coach called Shough "better than Cam Ward," according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini (h/t Bleacher Report's Adam Wells).

To unlock his best traits and mitigate his worst, Shough will need to land on a team with a a strong supporting cast, a dependable offensive line and a more traditional pocket-passing offense. Given his age, it certainly wouldn't hurt to find an opportunity to start early in his career.

5. Los Angeles Rams

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Rams head coach Sean McVay

The Los Angeles Rams check most of the boxes when it comes to what Shough should want in an NFL home.

The Rams don't have an elite offensive line, but they have a mostly reliable one that ranked 14th overall last season, per Pro Football Focus. They have a pair of terrific wide receivers in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and they have a quarterback-friendly head coach in Sean McVay.

McVay's system uses movement and spacing to scheme receivers open and provide the quarterback with easy reads. That could help Shough get the ball out more quickly and avoid pressure until he learns to better manage it.

Shough's arm strength and ability to deliver from multiple angles would also complement what L.A. does offensively, as current starter Matthew Stafford possesses similar traits.

"His arm strength allows him to get away with being slightly late on some throws and still beat closing defenders," Pro Football Focus' Nick Akridge wrote of Shough. "He’s also able to throw the ball from multiple arm angles accurately and effectively."

The Rams still employ the 37-year-old Stafford and are likely to do so for as long as he wants to keep playing, which is why they land at the bottom of our list. Shough is a mature, pro-ready prospect who won't want to sit for two or three years before seeing the field.

But it wouldn't be a massive shock to see the Rams take Shough 26th overall.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin

If the Pittsburgh Steelers draft Shough, he might have a chance to earn the starting job in training camp. The Steelers have shown interest in Aaron Rodgers, but as of now, Mason Rudolph would be Shough's biggest competition in Pittsburgh.

The one concern with this potential pairing is an offensive line that Pro Football Focus ranked 27th overall last season. However, that line could show improvement if 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu stays healthy.

Aside from potential offensive line concerns, Shough would find plenty to like in Pittsburgh. It's a stable organization that has consistently stayed in the playoff hunt under head coach Mike Tomlin.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's run-oriented, play-action-heavy system would also fit with Shough's skill set.

While other teams could offer a more impressive supporting cast, the Steelers do have a pair of potent downfield receivers in DK Metcalf and George Pickens. Pairing Shough with those two could provide Pittsburgh with the sort of vertical attack it has lacked since Ben Roethlisberger was still in his prime.

Would Pittsburgh prefer a quarterback who is cooler under pressure? Perhaps, and that's why a move up in Round 1 to land Sanders wouldn't be a major surprise. If the Steelers like Shough enough to draft him instead of Sanders (or Dart), they'll likely have to do so at No. 21.

Pittsburgh doesn't currently hold a second-round pick because of the Metcalf trade.

3. Cleveland Browns

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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski

Though the Cleveland Browns have Deshaun Watson under contract for two more years, they seem ready to turn the page at quarterback.

The Browns probably won't use the second overall pick on a quarterback unless Ward is available. They were linked to Sanders early in the predraft process, but they now seem far more likely to target Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter at No. 2.

"A couple months ago, I was of the mind and the impression, based on things people told me, that the Browns were likely to go quarterback," Schefter said on The Adam Schefter Podcast (beginning at the 27-second mark) "And they were, but that was because they wanted Cam Ward."

However, Cleveland owns the top pick in Round 2 (No. 33), so it could look to target a quarterback there or even trade back into Round 1. Either way, Shough would be a logical target.

The Browns don't have a top-notch offensive line (ranked 20th overall by PFF), but they do have deep-threat pass-catchers in wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight end David Njoku who would complement Shough's strong arm.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski also runs an offense that would play to Shough's strengths. While the Louisville product does possess some scrambling ability (733 rushing yards in 42 college games), he's mostly a traditional pocket passer.

Stefanski's offenses have been at their best with pocket passers like Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, Joe Flacco and Jameis Winston behind center.

The Browns could also provide Shough with an experienced mentor in 40-year-old Joe Flacco. The two quarterbacks possess similar play styles, and Flacco could show his new understudy how to remain calm and manipulate the pocket to avoid pressure.

2. New York Giants

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Giants head coach Brian Daboll

Like the Browns, the New York Giants probably won't reach for a quarterback at the top of Round 1. They'll most likely take either Hunter or Carter (whichever one Cleveland passes up).

However, New York has done plenty of homework on the 2025 quarterback class and could still take a signal-caller early, even after adding Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency.

"This is a team, the Giants, that have been looking at their options where if they can't go quarterback at No. 3, they want to try to get one Day 2 or maybe even move up. Shough appears to be in that mix," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Sunday on SportsCenter (h/t Bleacher Report's Doric Sam).

Shough and the Giants would be a strong match. New York has an elite downfield receiver in Malik Nabers and a head coach in Brian Daboll who could get the most out of Shough's talents.

While Shough wasn't a true dual-threat quarterback in college, he ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. His combination of size, arm strength and quickness might remind Daboll a lot of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Daboll got the Giants job after helping to turn Allen from an unpolished prospect into a Pro Bowler as the Bills' offensive coordinator.

While New York's offensive line was ranked 23rd by Pro Football Focus last season, standout left tackle Andrew Thomas was limited to just six games by a Lisfranc injury. With Thomas healthy, the Giants should be able to provide Shough with adequate protection.

And while the Giants do have a potential placeholder in Wilson, he's only on a one-year deal. If Shough is ready to start as a rookie, nothing would stop New York from handing him the job.

Trading up from the 34th pick to grab Shough at the bottom of Round 1 would make a ton of sense for the Giants.

1. New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Matthew Hinton

Saints head coach Kellen Moore

A few weeks ago, the New Orleans Saints might not have even made this list. They have a veteran quarterback in Derek Carr and will likely employ him for at least another year, as he's under contract through 2026.

However, Carr might not actually see the field in 2025 because of a shoulder injury that "threatens his availability" for the coming season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

If Carr does miss the season, Shough would have an opportunity to compete with Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler right away and could become New Orleans' Week 1 starter.

The Saints offensive line isn't great (ranked 22nd by PFF), but they might have a crack at one of the draft's top linemen at No. 9 overall. Assuming they don't want Sanders in that spot, that is.

According to Schefter, there is "a belief around the league" that the Saints would prefer an offensive or defensive lineman near the top of Round 1 and that they want to draft a quarterback, "just maybe not at No. 9." If they land a lineman like Missouri's Armand Membou, they could improve their blocking unit significantly.

If New Orleans does exit the draft with an improved line, it would be equipped to support Shough right away. Head coach Kellen Moore is a former quarterback who could help develop Shough's instincts under pressure. His balanced offense and preference for deep passing would also complement Shough's skills.

As the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator in 2024, Moore helped Jalen Hurts rank fourth in the NFL in air yards per attempt.

The Saints also have terrific pass-catchers in Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, Juwan Johnson and Alvin Kamara. New Orleans might not be able to land Shough in Round 2, but according to Schefter, the Saints "already are making calls" about trading up from No. 40.