Tyler Shough’s rookie season under center for the New Orleans Saints came as a surprise to some. The Saints didn’t have many established weapons around the second-round pick, but the Louisville product managed to post a 5-4 record across his first nine starts, inspiring some hope for the future at quarterback for the first time since Drew Brees retired.
Still, there is more for Shough to learn, even if that comes from a former draft bust. The Saints have signed quarterback Zach Wilson as another possible backup option to Shough, according to Saints reporter Nick Underhill. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that it is a one-year deal for Wilson.
Coach Kellen Moore, a former quarterback himself, has been able to develop and get good results out of the passers he has worked with at several of his coaching stops. Shough appears to be the latest, and it’s possible he could teach Wilson a thing or two that could make a difference for him down the line.
Wilson, 26, was the second-overall pick back in 2021 by the New York Jets, but his career never took off the way the Jets hoped it would. He became the backup to Aaron Rodgers briefly in New York, but didn’t learn much from the future Hall of Famer after his injury and was traded in the following offseason.
Wilson spent the past two seasons as a backup in Denver and Miami. He’s thrown 23 touchdowns and tossed 25 interceptions in his career.
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To be straight, there isn’t any chance Shough is not starting for the Saints in Week 1, barring an injury. Even in that scenario, Spencer Rattler is likely to get the snaps before Wilson does. Still, Wilson can provide some extra competition in a very young quarterback room on a rebuilding team. It also provides the Saints with an experienced backup in the event that they trade Rattler to another QB-needy team.
Wilson isn’t a sure thing to make the team, and he’ll need to prove himself throughout training camp, or he’s an easy cut when that time comes.
