Analyst names 2025 NFL Draft QB prospect who can 'start right away'

Since January, numerous analysts and reporters have said that none of the quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft have "a true first-round grade" and that most of them should spend at least the upcoming season developing as backups. 

However, The Athletic's Ted Nguyen is among those who view Louisville's Tyler Shough as a to-be rookie signal-caller "who can read defenses and start right away." 

Some have said that the Cleveland Browns could target Shough during the draft and then have him compete with former Pittsburgh Steelers flop Kenny Pickett and recently signed fan-favorite Joe Flacco for their QB1 job. 

"When he has a clean pocket," Nguyen wrote for an article published on Friday, "Shough ranked 12th in (expected points added) per dropback when not pressured (0.48). Stats from a clean pocket are stable metrics that usually translate to the pros, but how they handle the smaller sample of plays when they have to deal with pressure decides their ceiling. Shough looks like he can be an average to above-average quarterback, which some teams like the Browns could use immediately. He reminds me a lot of (New Orleans Saints starter) Derek Carr. They both are smart quarterbacks with similarly quick releases, above-average arm talent and inconsistent play under pressure."

Multiple reports surfaced in April indicating that the Browns will take Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the draft's second pick over Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, partly because Sanders may not want to end up in Cleveland. 

The Browns could be one of the teams that allegedly have Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart ranked ahead of Sanders, but Cleveland may not want to trade back into the first round to take Dart if general manager Andrew Berry knows he can get Shough at No. 33. 

"He’s a bit older (he’ll be 26 as a rookie) with an injury history (he broke his collarbone twice in 2021 and 2022 and broke his fibula in 2023) but if you ignore those factors, you can get an instant upgrade at the most important position in football and you won’t have to spend a day one pick to do it," Nguyen added about Shough. "...If you watch Shough’s tape, he has first-round-type ability. He has a lightning-quick release and a strong arm. He’s a rotational thrower and doesn’t need much space in the pocket to throw accurately. He throws a beautiful deep ball and can zip passes into tight windows with velocity."

Shough is far from an elite prospect and could become the fifth quarterback drafted later this month behind Miami's Cam Ward, Sanders, Dart and Alabama's Jalen Milroe. 

If Cleveland's Kevin Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year Award winner, thinks he can get the best out of Shough, the Browns could be an ideal fit for an older first-year pro who could take meaningful snaps this fall.