When Drew Brees walked away, everyone wondered how the New Orleans Saints would handle the quarterback spot. Well, it hasn’t been pretty. They’ve cycled through Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston, Derek Carr, and a few more names along the way. Now, fast-forward to the present, and Tyler Shough has the keys. He’s shown some poise and even picked up his first NFL win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 10.

But naturally, that leads to the real question: Are the Saints sticking with Shough next year? Or are they ready to draft another quarterback? On the latest episode of First Draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates broke down potential first-round scenarios. And Yates thinks New Orleans is absolutely taking a quarterback. His pick? Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana at No. 1 overall.

“I am going to submit the card because I have some conviction on this pick being a quarterback,” Yates said when asked who the Saints will pick at No. 1 overall, considering their current 2-8 record. “My top graded quarterback so far this juncture of the college football season remains Fernando Mendoza.”

If the Saints really do take Mendoza next year, like Yates predicts, it would mark the second straight draft where they’ve gone after a quarterback. But this time, the dynamics are completely different. After all, Tyler Shough came in at No. 40 overall. And Mendoza would be a top-tier prospect with far bigger expectations attached, no matter which team drafts him.

And if you speak fairly, he’s earned that buzz. Everything he’s done this season has caught the attention of draft scouts, and his numbers pretty much speak for themselves. Ever since transferring from Cal to Indiana in December, he has completed 73% of passes for 2,641 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions with a QBR of 88.7 while leading Indiana to an unbeaten record in 11 games.

With that said, the 2025 NFL season is hitting its final stretch with just seven weeks to go. And one thing’s pretty clear right now: the mock drafts are heating up. And most of them have the Saints taking another quarterback, even with Shough currently holding the starting job and getting praise from the Saints legend.

Drew Brees praised Tyler Shough after the rookie’s first win

The quarterback situation seems settled for the Saints, at least for now, after watching Tyler Shough’s strong outing against the Panthers in Week 10. And that’s exactly why Saints legend Drew Brees didn’t hesitate to give Shough his flowers for the way he played.

“Yeah, look, it was an impressive performance, and he’s one of those guys who’s only gonna get better each time he gets a chance to get on the field,” Brees said. “That’s the only problem, the only tough thing about the quarterback position is only one guy can play, and you need the experience and the repetition to develop confidence and all those things that come with it.

“So, nothing replaces experience, so with each and every snap he gets, the better he’ll get, and I think it’s one of the reasons why he was drafted, and why we liked him so much, was, you know, seven years in college.”

The Saints pick Shough in the second round after the rookie spent seven seasons in college. Though the Saints named Spencer Rattler the starter initially, Kellen Moore turned to Shough after the team fell to 1-7. The QB struggled in his first NFL start in a 10–34 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He went 15 for 24 passes for 176 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

But Week 10 turned out to be his breakout moment against the Panthers. He threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns, locked in a 17–7 win, his first in the NFL, and picked up some well-earned praise from Brees along the way. He’ll continue starting for the Saints this weekend against the Atlanta Falcons. Will he do so next season? That remains to be seen.