Jets fans suddenly have a new rookie QB they should be rooting for

New York Jets fans have been begging for a rookie quarterback to root for, and they finally have one. The only problem is that he doesn't play for their favorite team.

That's because that quarterback is New Orleans Saints second-round pick Tyler Shough, who delivered one of the most surprising results of Week 14 in a 24-20 upset win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Shough wasn’t perfect, but he did enough, completing 13-of-20 passes for 144 yards while adding 55 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including a highlight-reel 34-yard scramble. It was likely his most impressive performance to date.

And that’s exactly why Jets fans should care. The Saints and the Jets are both 3-10, sitting in the thick of a massive logjam atop the 2026 draft order. The Jets desperately want as few QB-needy teams as possible near the top of the draft, especially if they plan on moving up for a quarterback.

If Shough convinces the Saints he deserves an extended look as their starter, that’s one less competitor in the race. Suddenly, Jets fans have every reason to root for the Louisville product.

Jets fans should be rooting for Tyler Shough and the Saints

The 40th overall pick in this year's draft, Shough has made five starts so far this season since taking over for Spencer Rattler. The same leadership group that drafted him, head coach Kellen Moore and GM Mickey Loomis, will return in 2026.

That continuity alone gives Shough a real chance to lock down the job for next season if he shows continued progress. And to this point, he has.

Shough has thrown for 1,212 yards, completed 65% of his passes, and totaled seven touchdowns (five passing, two rushing) in his five starts. His turnovers remain an issue — he also has five interceptions — but he’s played well enough that New Orleans can reasonably justify bypassing a quarterback in a thin 2026 class.

That would be a huge development for the Jets. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the only near-guaranteed first-round QB. Oregon’s Dante Moore might return to school. Alabama’s Ty Simpson appears to be trending in that same direction.

The Jets have the capital to trade up, but the price skyrockets the more teams are involved. Keeping New Orleans out of the quarterback sweepstakes is crucial.

As of now, three teams have two wins and five teams have three wins, including both the Jets and Saints. New Orleans’ remaining schedule — Panthers, Jets, Titans, Falcons — is filled with winnable games, especially if Shough keeps improving. He's already won two of his five starts.

And don't overlook the fact that the Jets vs. Saints matchup in Week 16 has become one of the most consequential draft-placement games of the season. Meanwhile, the Jets might be down to Brady Cook at quarterback for that game, depending on the status of Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields.

Jets fans face a very simple reality here. The better Tyler Shough plays, the less likely the Saints are to draft a quarterback, and the cleaner the Jets’ path becomes to land their guy in 2026.

For once, Jets fans actually have a promising young quarterback to root for. He just happens to play for a team in a completely different conference.