The New Orleans Saints have officially made the switch to quarterback Tyler Shough.
Shough was first given the keys to the offense in Week 8 and he has started in each of the last two games since. The expectation is the 2025 second-round pick will remain in the starting job the rest of the way.
Shough will now have half of a season to show what he can do, and chances are he's going to get the rock in 2026, also, no matter what happens the rest of this season.
While the starting situation figures to be settled for 2026 with Shough at the helm, the Saints might not be set in the backup spot.
We've already seen that Spencer Rattler is not a good quarterback and New Orleans might want to bring in a more experienced option behind the unproven Shough.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay predicts the Saints will do exactly that by signing Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco, who will be a free agent in 2026.
The cash-strapped club will want to avoid splurging on any high-profile veterans like Daniel Jones and should instead opt for Joe Flacco, a cost-effective but competent backup who could both mentor Shough and light a fire under him.
Joe Flacco would be an ideal option for multiple reasons.
For starters, he gives the Saints a strong insurance policy behind Shough just in case he gets hurt or struggles and holds the Saints back from competing. Flacco will be 41 next year, but he has proven he's got plenty left in the tank.
Adding to that, Flacco would be an outstanding mentor for Shough, which only adds to the value of bringing him in.
Of course, the Saints are going to be strapped for cap space in 2026 and Flacco is going to be one of the more expensive backup quarterbacks in the NFL.
However, if the Saints can make it work, bringing in a high-end insurance policy and support system for Shough makes enough sense to spend the money.
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