The New Orleans Saints are 6-10, thanks largely in part to the emergence of Tyler Shough as a legitimate franchise quarterback over the last four weeks.
Since taking over partway through Week 8, Shough has been one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. While he might not be on a winning team, his production this season has been nothing short of remarkable.
Katherine Terrell of ESPN jots Shough down as an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, but he should be much more than that. Shough, the Saints' rookie QB, deserves to win the Rookie of the Year award this season.
Why Tyler Shough deserves NFL OROY Award
"Shough looked like a Rookie of the Year candidate despite playing with a depleted offense," Terrell writes, "and he hit the 300-yard passing mark for the second straight week."
The Saints have found their franchise quarterback, and the production of Shough this season, even though it's been for just half of the year, should earn him honors this season.
Tetairoa McMillan and Emeka Egbuka have been listed as favorites for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award at times this season, but neither is running away with the honor.
Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin Jr. Of the Cleveland Browns have been good, as has Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans. But none of those players are deserving of the honor more than Shough.
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He has 2,125 passing yards and nine touchdowns in his time starting for the Saints. He's won four straight games, including upset wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers.
The last two weeks for Shough, going 22-of-27 for 333 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Titans, and 32-of49 for 308 yards and one touchdown against the New York Jets, are some of the best back-to-back performances by a rookie QB in NFL history.
Shough has made eight starts this season and came in halfway through the first Buccaneers matchup in place of Rattler. If he had been starting all season, he'd be the runaway favorite for the award.
Instead, he came into the starting role halfway through the year. And despite that, he should still be the frontrunner for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
With a lackluster field, Shough deserves the honor, especially if he closes out the 2025 season strong against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18. Shough has been great and is more than deserving of being the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year for the 2025 season.
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