When we surveyed people around the NFL on which player could be the next Drake Maye or Jaxon Smith-Njigba and make a sudden leap in 2026, one common answer emerged.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was routinely mentioned by scouts and executives we spoke with as a rising star to watch this season. In fact, one NFL executive told us that there’s no young quarterback “better set up for success” than Shough, while a scout told us that he was the best rookie quarterback last season.Â
There were also a pair of Chicago Bears standouts that people around the league have their eyes on this season as rising stars. So, let’s unpack what we’re hearing about potential breakout candidates this season.Â
Ralph Vacchiano:Â Even the New Orleans Saints werent quite sure what they had in second-round quarterback Tyler Shough at the start of last season. But by the end of the year, it looked like they had found their quarterback of the future. He was also the best of the quarterback class of 2025, even though he made just nine starts.
And some around the NFL think he should be even better in Year 2 since the Saints have surrounded him with a stellar supporting cast.
“There is no young quarterback better set up for success than [Shough],” an NFL executive told me. “Kellen Moore is a brilliant offensive mind, for starters. And look what they surrounded him with. He already had [wide receiver Chris] Olave and [tight end Juwan] Johnson. And in the right hands, Travis Etienne is a terrific running back â way better than Alvin Kamara at this stage.
“In a bad division, they could surprise some people. And his numbers could pop.”
Things would have looked even better for Shough if it wasnt for the hamstring injury suffered by rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, a player the executive told me “might be the best receiver in the draft.” Hes out at least the first four weeks of the season, and he could be sidelined until mid-October, according to some reports.
“Thats a blow for sure,” one NFC scout told me. “But I think theres still enough there for Shough to grow. Look at what he did last year. Hes got a much better team around him now.”
Vacchiano: The Saints were 6-11 last year, but that was enough to finish just two games out of first place (and the playoffs). Shough completed 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. He showed off a little mobility too (186 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns).
“I dont think there was a better rookie quarterback last year,” the scout told me. “Maybe [Giants quarterback Jaxson] Dart will be better because hes a real true dual-threat quarterback. But Shough has the ability to be an outstanding passer. And hes certainly in the right hands.”
And as Shough showed promise toward the end of last season, the executive I spoke with expects him to take a step forward in 2026 now that he’s spent a year in Moore’s offense.Â
“He was good at everything. But mostly he was poised and efficient and really ran that offense well without a lot of mistakes,” the executive told me. “Moore will push him more this season, and I think hes up to the task.”
Eric D. Williams: Shough was a pleasant surprise for the Saints in the second half of the 2025 season, and talent evaluators I spoke with expect him to take another jump in his development in 2026.
Shough, who was taken in the second round of last year’s draft and was the third quarterback taken behind Cam Ward and Dart, lost the training camp battle with Spencer Rattler before becoming the starting quarterback for the final games. As Shough went 5-4 as a starter, one talent evaluator I spoke with noted one area he grew in as his rookie season progressed.Â
“Shough took a large leap last year in the last quarter of the season handling pocket pressure,” an NFL senior talent evaluator told me. “I think a full offseason with Kellen Moore will
