Tyler Shough Says He Will 'Compete My Butt Off' for Saints QB Role amid Carr Injury

With the No. 40 pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft, Louisville’s Tyler Shough was selected by the New Orleans Saints.

He will be joining head coach Kellen Moore in a competitive quarterback room alongside veteran Derek Carr and 24-year-old Spencer Rattler—but he’s ready to “compete my butt off.”

“I'm going to add value to the quarterback position and the team any way I can,” Shough told ESPN’s Rece Davis. “I'm going to come in there and compete my butt off and do everything I can to make the Saints better, whatever that looks like.”

With starting quarterback Carr’s lingering shoulder injury still raising questions—and the team staying tight-lipped on the situation—Shough could immediately compete for the starting job.

"He does have an issue with his shoulder; we're hoping to get some resolution and clarity on that in the near future, and when we do, I'll report back to you," general manager Mickey Loomis told reporters on Wednesday. 

Carr’s injury didn’t alter the Saints’ draft strategy, as the team remained focused on long-term value and depth rather than reacting to uncertainty at quarterback.

"I don't think the draft approach is different for us than it would be in any year," Loomis continued. "We're hoping for as many good players, great players, as we can find. And we're fortunate enough this year to have multiple picks in the first four rounds and we're excited about that because I think there's some depth in this draft."

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the starting job, Shough wasn’t focused on that—he was soaking in the excitement of a draft night he’ll never forget.

“It was definitely memorable for sure,” Shough told Davis. “I'm just so blessed to be here with all my friends and family and former teammates and coaches (who have) been along on this whole journey. I couldn’t ask for a better day or a better opportunity to be a part of the saints.” 

The Louisville Cardinals quarterback is the oldest player in the draft, set to turn 26 in September after spending seven years in college.

Shough began his career at Oregon in 2018, redshirting his first year. In 2019, he served as a backup to current Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. He earned the starting role his sophomore year, leading the team to a Pac-12 championship with a 4-3 record (affected by COVID-19).

In 2021, Shough transferred to Texas Tech, where he played behind Donovan Smith and Behren Morton. During his time at Texas Tech, the team won three consecutive bowl games, and he finished his career there with 2,922 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and a 62.4 completion rate.

Shough rounded out his college career as a third-year senior at Louisville in the ACC, where he led the team to a Sun Bowl victory against Washington and finished with a 9-4 record. He threw for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns, posting a 62.7 completion rate.

In Bleacher Report’s final mock draft, Shough was projected to go in the third round at pick No. 90 to the Los Angeles Rams alongside quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo. 

On Friday, following the first round of the draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on NFL Live, “I won't be surprised if Tyler Shough goes ahead of Shedeur Sanders."

Teams like the Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets—all holding early second-round picks and in need of a quarterback—were possible landing spots.

B/R NFL scout Dame Parson compared Shough to “a mobile Nick Foles.” The comparison to the former Pro Bowler—the 88th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Super Bowl champion with the Eagles, and Super Bowl LII MVP—is quite the praise. 

Shough enters the league as the No. 7 quarterback prospect and No. 113 overall  pick on Bleacher Report’s final Big Board.