New Orleans Saints safety Justin Reid is too media savvy to let his guard down on the links and reveal which quarterback, second-round draft pick Tyler Shough or second-year Spencer Rattler, is ahead in Kellen Moore’s open QB competition.
When I asked him at the 2025 American Century Championship on Wednesday if there was a standout in the room, Reid gave me player-speak with a smile on his face to preserve his coaching staff’s privacy as they make a franchise-altering decision.
“It’s fairly square,” Reid told me.
“We feel it’s a competition. I mean, both guys are getting first-team reps, and you know, it's about them just making the most of an opportunity. It's kind of hard to see what you got in OTAs. You know, really tastes when some pads get put on, I really think when the preseason games come around, that things will start to align themselves more. But right now, it's just not healthy competition.”
Truth be told, Reid’s probably not pulling my leg too much here.
Shough has had his moments in OTAs and mandatory rookie minicamp, but locker room leaders for 53-man rosters aren’t made when there’s no pads on. While Shough has been complimented for his vertical routes and out-breaking patterns, there has been a lack of strong sentiment about him being the Saints’ QB of the future.
Sentiment doesn’t matter. First-round picks have proven to be draft busts time and again, and day three draft picks have become legendary. Ask Tom Brady.
But for a team that’s drafted a signal-caller in the last two drafts, there isn’t a ton of faith in Shough stemming from anything other than getting first-team reps in May in non-game situations.
About the 2025 American Century Championship
The American Century Championship will air from Friday to Sunday on NBC, Peacock, and the GOLF Channel. Reid is one of over 90 athletes and celebrities in the annual mid-July golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada.