NFL News & Notes: Rookie Quarterbacks; Plus, End Of An Era
With the NFL preseason only days away, at least two rookie quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Tyler Shough, are listed on summer depth charts as projected regular-season starters.
In the 2025 draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Ward, a University of Miami standout, as the first overall pick. In the second round, the New Orleans Saints took Shough of the Louisville Cardinals as the 40th overall selection. Both are named as projected starters on media summer depth charts, including at ESPN.
With the Titans’ recent announcement that incumbent quarterback Will Levis is out for the 2025-’26 season with a shoulder injury, the likelihood is even stronger that Ward will start under center to open the season on Sept. 7 at Denver. The Titans have eight-year veteran Brandon Allen, a former Arkansas Razorback starter, slated in a backup role.
In addition to Shough, the Saints have quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener on the summer roster. The team opens the regular season on Sept. 7 at home against the Arizona Cardinals.
Rookie quarterbacks in a starting role are nothing new in the NFL, including last season when rookies such as Jayden Daniels, a Heisman Trophy winner at LSU, and Bo Nix racked up impressive pro numbers. Nix completed his college career with the Oregon Ducks.
Last season, Nix finished 12th in the league in passing yardage (3,775) while playing for the Denver Broncos. Daniels was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, finishing 16th in the NFL in passing yards (3,568) while leading the Washington Commanders to two postseason wins before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. (As a side note, the Commanders were in the news recently when President Donald Trump said the team should change its name back to the Redskins.)
End Of An Era
Recent news that 12-year NFL veteran Tyrann Mathieu, a former LSU Tiger known as the Honey Badger, dominated sports headlines. The New Orleans Saints safety compiled an impressive NFL career as a member of four previous teams before finishing his playing days in front of the Who Dat Nation in his hometown. Mathieu is a New Orleans St. Augustine High School product.
Mathieu’s announcement led to an interesting “End of an Era” social media post from DraftKings, listing the many NFL players who have retired just this offseason alone. Names on the list include Philip Rivers, Derek Carr, Julio Jones, Jimmy Graham, Ndamukong Suh and Patrick Peterson.
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