The New Orleans Saints are currently heading into training camp with by far the most inexperienced quarterback room in the NFL.
Since Derek Carr’s surprising retirement from the league, the Saints have a three-way battle for the starting job between Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough.
Haener has played in a backup role for most of his career up to this point while Rattler was thrown into the fire last season as a rookie when Carr went down with an injury, but struggled to ever look comfortable as the starter.
The New Orleans Saints drafted Shough in the second round of the NFL Draft back in April, and many believe he’s the frontrunner or the starting QB position in 2025.
Veteran Saints WR Brandin Cooks was particularly impressed with Shough after the first session of OTAs.
"At the end of the day, you know like you said, whoever is out there you push in a good way," Cooks said. "Also, you kind of give them some pointers that you maybe learned throughout the years that at the end of the day it's a healthy competition and the guys are playing fast and that's the biggest coaching point...Tyler has got some stuff to him, got a little swag. He's made every throw out here, obviously.”
Cooks also made a point to acknowledge how comfortable Rattler has looked so far.
"Just going to slow the game out and what not. But, that's anybody that comes in as a rookie. Spence is letting it fly. You look forward to that. You're watching the competition - they're bringing the best out of each other. It's been cool to be able to see these guys battle in a healthy way."
The Saints are entering the first year with longtime NFL offensive guru Kellen Moore as their new head coach. Moore’s resume shines with examples of him getting the most out of his quarterbacks, from his time in Dallas with Dak Prescott to helping Jalen Hurts get over the hurdle and win a Super Bowl with the Eagles last year.
While the New Orleans Saints may have some growing pains at the most important position in the NFL in 2025, Moore appears to be the right guy for the job.
So far, the Saints haven’t made any moves to bring in a veteran to compete with the three unproven QBs, but one prediction is interesting to say the least.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes Colts former first-round pick Anthony Richardson is likely to get traded and one NFL writer thinks the Saints are a perfect fit.
David Latham of Last Word on Sports predicts the Saints as a probable trade partner with the Colts to acquire Richardson:
With Aaron Rodgers now on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New Orleans Saints are the only team remaining with no veteran option on the depth chart. Following Derek Carr’s retirement, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and second-round rookie Tyler Shough are battling for the vacant starting quarterback job. Rattler and Haener are a combined 0-7 in their NFL careers, and Rattler finished the 2024 season with the worst PFF grade among quarterbacks. Perhaps Tyler Shough can develop into the real deal, but an Anthony Richardson trade would give this team another dart throw to attempt and solve their quarterback woes.