The New Orleans Saints won't be getting much of the NFL's spotlight the rest of the way in the 2025 season, but the quarterback situation is starting to get some positive attention.
The comeback effort by Tyler Shough in what was ultimately a 21-17 loss to the Dolphins drew rave reviews from NFL analyst Mark Schlereth, who was the color commentator for the game. He also was on the call for the Saints' win over the Panthers.
"Changing protections on the line of scrimmage, finding the open guy, having the poise in the pocket, being convicted when you throw the football. He has all those things. I mean, every one of those things," Schlereth said. "He’s got movement skills. He’s got big-time arm talent. ... So, I walk away from that game, guys, being completely, like, completely convinced that that guy has got a chance to be really good."
Hear the full interview with Mark Schlereth in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
Shough finished the game 26-38 for 239 yards and two touchdowns, largely after halftime. The Saints offense failed to score in a first half that included a lost fumble and an interception. Things haven't always been pretty, including tough losses to the Rams and Falcons, but Schlereth points to the preparation as the biggest sign of what's to come.
"I said on the broadcast, man, that dude loves the grind," Schlereth said this week on WWL. "He loves the prep, and I get it all the time, man, when I hear people talk about players, man, I just go out and ball, I’m like OK, check that guy off, he’ll have a short career. When I have a guy that talks about the preparation and the falling in love with the film study and trying to decipher who you should attack, who you should stay away from, what guys are good at, what guys are not good at. That, to me, is an indicator that a dude really understands the professionalism of playing this sport."
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With a 2-10 record and an early elimination from playoff contention, it's unlikely the bulk of the young QB attention is sent the Saints' way. The ratings draws of Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart will dominate the headlines, but if he had to rank those players today -- as well as some Year 2 signal-callers -- Schlereth knows who he'd have at the top of the list.
"He’s the best rookie of all the guys I’ve watched that are rookies right now playing … he’s playing better right now than a lot of the second-year quarterbacks out of that draft class last year," Schlereth said, "with Penix and with, you know, with Caleb Williams and obviously the kid in Minnesota, that he’s playing better than any of those guys.”