Tyler Shough, predicted somewhere around Day Two, could provide a spark to any NFL team that drafts him.
Tyler Shough Climbs Draft Boards
With everyone’s attention geared toward the top five or six quarterbacks, Shough continues to make small ripples that lead to waves. The former Louisville, Texas Tech, and Oregon quarterback strides into the draft as a known quantity with an unknown skillset.
Granted, nothing will catapult him into the stratosphere of a top pick. At the same time, he flashes the ability to not only settle in as a backup but conceivably challenge for a starting job. Now, is he a long-term solution to a team that longs for a franchise quarterback? No, that remains the furthest of leaps. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as a second-round draft pick in his latest mock draft, stating:
“Deshaun Watson is out with a re-torn Achilles, and Kenny Pickett is the only other quarterback on the Browns’ roster. Shough has the arm strength to drive the ball in Cleveland weather, and he looks the part at 6-foot-5 and 219 pounds. Some evaluators will be concerned by his age (turning 26 this year), but the flip side of that is his experience — he has thrown 951 passes over 43 career games. He could compete with Pickett for starts.”
Now, fighting with Kenny Pickett for snaps does not seem to instill faith in other teams. Yet, Watson’s injury, as Kiper asserts, does make it completely plausible. Cleveland needs something, anything, to break positively at the quarterback position.
Traits
The film loves Shough’s game. With a big arm that can make every single throw, the prospect can find any target at any depth of the field. In three different offenses, you could see the ball zip from his hand. As mentioned, all throws, including the deep out, which serves as the measuring stick, fit in. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein discussed Shough:
“He’s a talented passer with a live arm who is capable of making pro throws both intermediate and deep but battles inconsistency. He plays with good field vision, using his eyes to hold defenders and set up his throwing windows. Shough is confident and accurate when protected but will flinch when pressure mounts, leading to spotty decision-making and big sacks. His size and passing talent will be enticing, but durability and mobility concerns are impediments he will need to overcome.”
Concerns
The middle-aged elephant in the room is the matter of Shough’s age. By the time the season begins, he will turn 26. Usually, 26-year-old quarterbacks quickly await the opportunity for their second contract, the moneymaker that will set them up for life.
Instead, Shough could still be scrambling for meaningful game snaps and opportunities. Additionally, the reason why Shough stayed in college for seven years remains the injury bug. On two different occasions, he broke his collarbone, prematurely ending his season. Another time, he broke his leg, which halted yet another campaign. How will that change when faster defenders bear down on him, dropping back in the pocket?
For fans and media alike, Shough may not be the quarterback you truly want, but he could end up being the one you need. In football, good situations make players appear much better than they actually are. Will Shough enter the NFL as a highly touted star?
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He is a quarterback with seven years of collegiate football experience. The future pro will enter a league with more experience than any quarterback not named Cam Ward. To Kiper’s point, Cleveland would benefit from Shough, even if he plays as a transitional signal-caller.
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