Here’s a cool stat. For all the criticism levied on the New Orleans Saints after they drafted old-for-a-rookie Tyler Shough (a quarterback who will be 26 in September), the Saints’ 2025 NFL draft class isn’t the oldest in the league. They aren’t top five, either, per sports data journalist Daniel Griffis. The Saints and Houston Texans have an average rookie age of 22.78, tied for sixth-oldest around the NFL. And it’s a pretty level scale. The Miami Dolphins have the youngest draft class at 21.5, while the Denver Broncos are oldest at 23.14.
It makes sense that Shough’s presence would tilt the Saints to the older side, but he’s just one of nine rookies they drafted. Of those nine picks, two are just 21 years old — first-round offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. and sixth-round running back Devin Neal. Three others are 22 right now, between third-round safety Jonas Sanker and fourth-round linebacker Danny Stutsman, plus seventh-round tight end Moliki Matavao. And three more are 23 years of age between third-round defensive tackle Vernon Broughton, fourth-round cornerback Quincy Riley, and seventh-round edge defender Fadil Diggs. Shough, 25 until September, is the only outlier.
How much does this matter? Depending on who you ask, either a lot or a little. Most NFL players don’t approach their athletic prime until their late 20’s, so theoretically all of them have their best football ahead of them. Quarterbacks are a rare case where the position’s role and the rules in place to protect the passer can allow them to play into the 40’s. So while Shough may be further along than most, he isn’t necessarily a finished product just yet. So long as he’s playing well and helping the Saints win football games, all this talk about his age will get left behind in the offseason.