When Derek Carr retired on May 10, it gave Tyler Shough and his representation maximum leverage after the New Orleans drafted him in the second round.
The 6-5, 219-pound quarterback turns 26 in September and right now he's in line to be the starter for the Saints in his rookie year.
Only problem is, he still hasn't signed a contract. A master of leverage after transferring twice in his college career, from Oregon to Texas Tech to Louisville, Shough and his representation are holding out for a fully guaranteed contract.
It's created a chain reaction in the league, as 30 of the 36 unsigned players from this year's draft are second-rounders, waiting to see what kind of deal Shough gets from New Orleans.
Hampered by injuries and the Covid shutdown, Shough played parts of seven seasons in college, a four-star recruit out of Hamilton High in Chandler, Arizona. He started for the Ducks in 2020 but lost the job to Anthony Brown, despite leading the PAC-12 in yards per attempt and throwing 13 touchdown passes in seven games.
The next season Shough bolted to the Red Raiders. In a game against Oregon in September 2023 he dueled with the Ducks' new quarterback Bo Nix, throwing for 282 yards and three scores, running for 101 yards and another touchdown.
Shough broke free for a 58-yard keeper on his first drive and worked his team to a 27-18 lead in the third quarter, but the Ducks got to him for three interceptions and a fumble, escaping Lubbock with a 38-30 victory. Jeffrey Bassa's 45-yard reception return in the final minute sealed it.
The former Duck spent three injury-plagued seasons at TTU before transferring to Louisville for his final season, having been in college football since 2018. He piloted the Cardinals to a 8-4 record as an extra-extra-year senior, throwing for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns, intercepted six times.
Ever judicious, he sat out the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Walk-on senior Harrison Bailey threw for three touchdowns in his place as Louisville beat Washington 35-34.
Currently the Saints have three other options at quarterback, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and Hunter Dekkers, none a proven NFL starter. All-pro defensive end Cameron Jordan said on a podcast, "Tyler Shough, Arizona kid. Spencer Rattler, Arizona kid. Cameron Jordan, Arizona kid. We love it."
"That means you're going to get a player who is willing to do the work. Someone who isn't afraid of the nitty-gritty. Somebody who is probably savvy if you're going to look at any other Arizona players who have been a part of this franchise for the last 14 years."