CBS Sports analysis points to second-year leaps for Giants’ Dart and Saints’ Shough
A review of quarterback development trends since 2010 indicates that Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough possess the efficiency and stability profiles typically associated with legitimate starters rather than placeholders.
A CBS Sports analysis suggests that New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough are positioned to make significant developmental leaps in their second NFL seasons. The report indicates that quarterbacks with their specific rookie profiles—characterised by efficiency, low interception rates, and high completion percentages—typically evolve into legitimate starters rather than plateauing. This potential breakout could end the long franchise quarterback searches for both teams: the Giants, who have cycled through several successors to Eli Manning, and the Saints, who have sought a long-term solution following Drew Brees’ retirement.
The Giants have spent the better part of a decade looking for a replacement for Manning, cycling through Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito, and Russell Wilson before handing the offense to Dart. In New Orleans, the Saints have similarly cycled through Teddy Bridgewater, Jameis Winston, Derek Carr, and Spencer Rattler before turning to Shough. The analysis posits that while elite rookie production does not always translate to immediate breakout status, efficiency and mistake avoidance are often stronger predictors of future success.
Dart’s rookie season included 2,272 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and a 91.7 passer rating across 12 starts. The report highlights his low interception rate of just five on 339 attempts, noting that head coach Brian Daboll increasingly trusted him to make downfield throws as the season progressed. Historical comparisons for Dart include Bo Nix, Russell Wilson, and Marcus Mariota, with the analysis suggesting that quarterbacks with similar rookie profiles generally build on their initial seasons rather than regressing.
Shough completed 67.6% of his passes, averaged 7.3 yards per attempt, and posted a 91.3 passer rating over nine starts for the Saints. The report notes that Shough’s profile aligns with stability-focused quarterbacks such as Derek Carr and Andy Dalton, who provided multi-season stability despite not being All-Pros. The analysis suggests that Shough’s efficiency and the continuity of returning to the same offensive system could facilitate a strong second-year performance.
The report contrasts the developmental trajectories of Dart and Shough with other rookies such as Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, who present wider ranges of uncertainty for their second seasons. Ward, who started all 17 games for the Titans, and Sanders, who showed flashes of ability but also volatility in eight starts, are viewed as having less predictable outcomes compared to the efficiency-based profiles of Dart and Shough. Historical data from 2010 onwards indicates that the specific metrics exhibited by Dart and Shough are strong indicators of becoming legitimate NFL starters.
