The starting quarterback job for the New Orleans Saints is up for grabs entering training camp, and that’s not exactly a good thing for new head coach Kellen Moore.
The Saints drafted Tyler Shough in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, passing on other big-name quarterback prospects like Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. He’s the presumptive starter for New Orleans entering training camp, but Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes second-year pro Spencer Rattler is nipping at the rookie’s heels.
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In fact, Moton predicts Rattler, who broke school records as South Carolina for both total completions and completion percentage, will win the QB1 job outright in training camp:
"His 2024 passing numbers aren't good enough to give him the upper hand in this competition,” Moton wrote of Rattler’s rookie season, “but when you consider the circumstances in his starts, he has the potential to perform at an optimal level with a healthy supporting cast. … Even though Shough spent six years in college, he may need time to grasp the speed of the pro game. … Rattler was the primary backup over Haener last season. He'll stay ahead of him on the depth chart and beat out Shough for a second chance to showcase his talent in a starting role.”
Shough is hardly a perfect prospect, with his advanced age and brutal injury history. It’s hard to envision a scenario where he’s benched in favor of Rattler, though, as that would be a terrible look for the franchise.
The Saints used the No. 40 overall pick on Shough in April after opting not to pursue other quarterback options, like a trade for Tanner McKee — Moore’s former backup QB with the Philadelphia Eagles — or Cooper Rush, who Moore worked with during their time together in Dallas.
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That tells us this is Shough’s show. He’ll turn 26 in September as an NFL rookie, and there’s simply no time to let him sit and develop behind a former fifth-round pick in Rattler.
If Shough sits or struggles, the Saints are most likely looking at another lost season and high draft selection in 2026. Would Moore pass up the opportunity to draft a younger quarterback prospect, like a Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier or Arch Manning? It’s doubtful.
For better or worse, Moore’s Saints should roll with their rookie quarterback in 2025 and hope they’ve found a franchise-altering steal.
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