By Adeniyi Precious 
Not every NFL quarterback takes the straight path to stardom. Some are five-star prospects from day one, while others battle injuries, transfers, and setbacks just to get their shot. Louisville’s Tyler Shough (pronounced “Shuck”) falls into the latter category.
At 25 years old—turning 26 in September—Shough isn’t your typical NFL Draft prospect. But despite an injury-plagued college career, his talent has scouts intrigued. Could he be a late-round steal or even a dark-horse franchise QB? And more importantly, should the New York Giants be paying close attention?
—
A Long Road to the NFL
Shough’s journey began in Chandler, Arizona, where he was a four-star recruit with offers from Oregon, Alabama, Michigan, and others. He first committed to North Carolina but later flipped to Oregon, where he expected to take over for Justin Herbert in 2019. That didn’t happen—Herbert stayed another year, leaving Shough as his backup.
In 2020, he finally got his shot, starting for Oregon in a COVID-shortened season. He played well but soon transferred to Texas Tech, looking for a bigger role. That’s when injuries hit hard:
2021: Broken collarbone vs. Texas
2022: Collarbone re-injured on first hit of the season
2023: Broken fibula on a hip-drop tackle vs. West Virginia
After three frustrating years in Lubbock, he made one last move—to Louisville in 2024. There, he finally put together a full season, showing off his arm talent and leadership. Louisville’s staff even did a full medical work-up and determined his injuries were mostly bad luck, not a long-term concern.
—
What Makes Shough Intriguing?
NFL-Ready Tools
Shough checks a lot of physical boxes for an NFL QB:
✅ Size: 6’4 ⅞”, 219 lbs—ideal height, but a bit lanky
✅ Athleticism: Moves well, good speed in the open field
✅ Arm Talent: Not quite Josh Allen-level, but strong enough to make all the throws
✅ Football IQ: Played in multiple offensive systems and adapted well
At Louisville, he ran a more pro-style offense, making full-field reads, running play-action, and taking command at the line of scrimmage. His leadership and toughness have also been praised at every stop.
The Numbers Game
His advanced stats tell an interesting story:
Completion %: 62.7% (5th among top QB prospects)
Yards per game: 266.3 (4th)
Sack rate: 3% (best in class!)
Pressure-to-sack rate: 9.3% (also best in class!)
QBR: 75.5 (5th)
His low sack rate and ability to avoid pressure are major pluses, suggesting he processes defenses well and doesn’t panic under duress. But his EPA (expected points added) and completion percentage aren’t elite, which may concern some scouts.
—
The Big Question: Can Shough Be an NFL Starter?
Shough’s age (26 as a rookie) and injury history could scare teams off. But the NFL is getting more comfortable with older QBs—guys like Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, and Michael Penix Jr. were all drafted at 24.
If teams believe his injury issues are truly behind him, he could be a mid-to-late-round steal with legitimate starting potential. For a team like the Giants, who may be looking for a developmental QB, Shough’s mix of arm talent, experience, and football IQ could be intriguing.
Verdict: If a team is willing to take a chance, Shough could be one of the draft’s best value picks. Keep an eye on him.