NFL Draft: Saints HC Kellen Moore reveals why he chose Tyler Shough over Shedeur Sanders

The New Orleans Saints were undoubtedly one of the franchises in need of strengthening their quarterback position in this NFL Draft. While many had expected Shedeur Sanders to be the pick, the team led by Kellen Moore ultimately chose to go with Louisville Cardinals QB Tyler Shough.

After dismissing all projections and speculations regarding the arrival of the former Buffaloes star to the Saints, it was Coach Moore himself who, in a press conference, addressed the reasons behind the team’s decision to go with Shough in this pick.

“He was right in those conversations,” Moore said about Shedeur. “These are really tough decisions. He’s a really good player. What he accomplished at Colorado and when you watch the film, it’s really, really good. I think really highly of him. Ultimately, as you go through it, you’ve got to make a decision. We felt like Tyler was the one for us.”

The recent injuries suffered by Shough showcased a level of resilience rarely seen, which, according to Moore’s own words, was one of the key factors that led the New Orleans staff to ultimately choose him.

Tyler Shough #QB14 of Louisville participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“We saw it as a positive,” Moore said. “He’s been through a lot of football, he’s been exposed to a lot of different settings. And the quarterback position, these guys aren’t reaching their peak for a while. He’s going to continue to rise and grow. . . . There’s challenges as you go through this and those guys who can handle adversity tend to thrive in this league. . . . For him to continue to rebound from those and then play at such a high level this past year, he kind of just built momentum as we went through this whole thing.”

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Where could Shedeur Sanders land in the NFL?

The surprising omission of Shedeur Sanders by all 32 NFL franchises in the first three rounds raises the question of where the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback will ultimately land in the the league.

The Raiders, under Pete Carroll and Tom Brady, remain a strong destination for Sanders, with whom they had positive talks even before signing Geno Smith. Las Vegas still holds the 6th pick of the fourth round (108th overall in the Draft).

The Eagles and Jets also join the mix, with the possibility of bringing him into their teams for the upcoming season. However, all eyes will be on what the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by Mike Tomlin, might do. With the 123rd pick, they could potentially draft Sanders, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers’ future.