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The New Orleans Saints enter uncharted waters in 2025. The sudden retirement of Derek Carr has catapulted the franchise into a state of transition. Now, the roster features its share of question marks. However, one rookie in particular has seized his first opportunity to make a lasting impression: Tyler Shough. As the Saints closed out rookie minicamp, it was clear that the second-round quarterback wasn’t just adjusting to the NFL. He was positioning himself to potentially lead the franchise into its next era.
Having enjoyed success as an offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, Kellen Moore finally landed his first NFL head coaching job with the Saints. Yes, the hire brought a fresh offensive mind to New Orleans. That said, optimism remains tempered following a 2024 campaign that saw the team finish with a 5-12 record.
Carr’s retirement was the biggest domino to fall this offseason. Despite questions about his long-term future, Carr had at least offered the Saints veteran stability under center. His departure leaves a wide-open quarterback room headlined by rookies and unproven players.
Elsewhere, the Saints made calculated moves on both sides of the ball. In an attempt to raise the offense’s ceiling, they drafted left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. They also added veteran receiver Brandin Cooks to complement Chris Olave and retained Alvin Kamara’s services in the backfield. Still, the offense’s upside remains modest. Many analysts predict growing pains in Moore’s first year at the helm.
Defensively, the secondary saw significant turnover. They lost Paulson Adebo in free agency and previously traded away Marshon Lattimore. As such, the Saints worked to replenish talent by signing safety Justin Reid. Up front, they re-signed edge rusher Chase Young and brought in Davon Godchaux to bolster the run defense. Linebacker Danny Stutsman, one of their more intriguing draft picks, also carries the physical tools to contribute immediately.
Despite these moves, there’s not a great deal of buzz surrounding the Saints heading into 2025. In fact, many believe the team could take a step back as they navigate life after Carr. Of course, that’s precisely what makes Shough’s emergence so compelling — and so necessary.
Here we’ll try to look at the New Orleans Saints rookie who really stood out the most during the team’s 2025 minicamp.
When Carr’s retirement became public, it sent shockwaves through the league. However, you wouldn’t have known it watching Tyler Shough take the field at the Saints’ indoor practice facility on the final day of rookie minicamp. Calm, composed, and locked in, Shough carried himself like a player who understood both the opportunity and the stakes ahead of him.
“(Coach) Kellen (Moore) told me this morning (about Carr’s retirement), and that was the extent of it,” Shough told reporters after practice. “We went out to practice and had a lot of fun.”
Rather than being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment, the 26-year-old quarterback stuck to his process....
