METARIE, La. — Tyler Shough is in pursuit.As a 26-year-old in a second-year quarterback’s body, Shough has the kind of life experience he may need to overcome his sharp lack of NFL experience. The New Orleans Saints QB has an edge to both his play and demeanor that seems to be the catalyst to his success.“I feel like I’m chasing this version of myself, this better version of myself where I feel like I hold myself to a really high standard,” Shough told The Athletic recently. “How can I continue to elevate and get better every single day?”Shough plays the most high-profile position on the planet, but with a franchise that hasn’t won a lackluster division in five seasons, he’s got a relatively obscure platform. But if the No. 40 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft continues his trajectory from late last season and the wins start piling up, it would only be a matter of time before Shough is casting shadows, rather than living in one.“I don’t really have any qualms with being under the radar or not highlighted a bunch,” Shough said. “That’s not why I’m here, or why I’m doing it.”It’s easy to understand why Shough has flown under the radar. He was at Oregon with Justin Herbert from 2018-19, transferred to Texas Tech in 2021, suffered a broken collarbone that season and a broken fibula in 2023 before moving to Louisville in time for 2024. Between all that movement and all those injuries, it was impossible to generate buzz — at least outside of scouting circles.Despite his age and injury red flags, Shough’s stellar 2024 campaign at Louisville got the attention of teams looking for a QB ahead of the 2025 draft. However, in terms of recognition, Shough remained relatively anonymous compared with his peers, who included QBs like No. 1 pick Cam Ward, who starred in the Miami spotlight, Jaxson Dart, who quickly became a tabloid darling for the New York Giants, and Shedeur Sanders, who entered the league with unique levels of hysteria.Shough, on the other hand, joined a rebuilding Saints team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2020, when coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees were still running the show. Since Brees’ retirement, they’ve started Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, Taysom Hill, Ian Book, Andy Dalton, Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener at quarterback, so the Saints got back to work for the 2025 draft.They had a late first-round grade on Shough and identified him as a likely target, recognizing they weren’t going to be in the QB market with the ninth pick. Once the Giants traded up to No. 25 for Dart, the Saints were prepared to make a similar jump if they deemed it necessary. But aside from the Cleveland Browns, the Saints felt like they had a good read on the board. Their patience paid off, as Shough slid to the Saints’ pick at No. 40.And Shough, for the first time in years, found a dose of stability.“I always feel like I’m going to play with a chip on my shoulder,” Shough said. “I also have this perspective of gratitude to be in this situation, to be in New Orleans. Throughout my college career, it was derailed by a couple of injuries, moving states, transferring teams. I understand the nature of the business.”The Saints couldn’t say at the time with any certainty Shough would be their QB of the future — and it’s still too early to make that proclamation — but they’ve really liked what they’ve been seeing.The Saints won five of Shough’s nine starts, including a 4-0 record in December. He completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he added 186 rushing yards and three scores. Shough finished second in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting to Carolina Panthers wideout Tetairoa McMillan.No, the Saints weren’t an offensive juggernaut, averaging 19.8 points during Shough’s starts. But Shough offered enough stability and playmaking to give the Saints a chance. Four of his first five starts were on the road, including his debut against the Los Angeles Rams, and the Saints were ecstatic with Shough’s ability to lead through adversity behind the scenes. They were 2-10 before their first four-game winning streak in five years.“My mindset was to just kind of go for it,” Shough said. “I’m here for a reason. If I can go out there and not be afraid to make mistakes, knowing it’s going to be far from perfect, but the more I can keep my head looking forward and getting everyone going on the same mission, that’s the goal. That was my mindset all of last year, and it’s continuing into this year.“We have high expectations for ourselves; we also have a good sense of urgency. We set a standard last year of how we can play together as a team, and I want to be the driving force of that.”Shough’s leadership has been undeniable, according to those around the Saints. He led a five-day throwing retreat with Saints receivers and tight ends last month in San Diego. Brees helped Shough reserve the fields and workout facility for their two-a-days, and the Pro Football Hall of Famer even worked out with the group and lent advice.“That was really cool,” Shough said.