The New Orleans Saints have showcased a lot of grit and determination this season, but that could ultimately be a double-edged sword for the franchise.
In sports, the name of the game is to win. But sometimes, you have to ask, is it actually worth it? The New Orleans Saints are facing a very unique situation like that right now. After enduring a seven-game losing streak, including a defeat against what was then the worst team in the NFL, the Saints decided to fire Head Coach Dennis Allen.
At that time, New Orleans was 2-7, and projected to have a top-five pick. Since then, the Saints have won two straight games under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, and as a result, the team would have the 10th-overall draft pick if the season ended today. However, the season doesn’t end today, as New Orleans has six more games. The team will probably win a couple of those games, and continue to worsen its spot in the draft order.
That's a problem, because the Saints could really use a high draft pick. An early pick in the 2025 NFL Draft would give the franchise an opportunity to draft a talented young quarterback and break the cycle New Orleans has been stuck in.
The Saints have made it clear they believe more in signing a veteran quarterback rather than drafting one and developing him over time. When the team first hired Allen to be the head coach, they stayed with Jameis Winston at QB. Winston and the Saints were just coming off finishing second in the division with 9-8 record and the veteran quarterback had a pretty ok year.
Unfortunately, Winston got hurt early in the season, which led to Andy Dalton being named starter, and the Saints ultimately finished that year 7-10. It was clear that Dalton nor Winston was the QB of the future in New Orleans. So after the season, with the 2023 Draft approaching, the Saints targeted Derek Carr.
Carr had a close connection with Allen, being the starting quarterback for the Raiders during Allen's first tenure as a head coach, so it was clear why the Saints were so adamant about signing him. To be fair, the 2023 NFL Draft class lacked star power at quarterback, with only two prospects truly standing out: Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud. The Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans, holding the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks, made it clear they had no intention of trading down.
The Saints went on to finish the 2023 season 9-8. Then came the 2024 NFL Draft, a star-studded quarterback class unlike the 2023 NFL Draft. That was evident with an NFL record of 11 QBs drafted, including six selected in the first round.
In the fifth round of the draft, the New Orleans Saints selected Spencer Rattler, marking the first time the team has drafted a quarterback since 2020, when they took Tommy Stevens in the seventh round. The move highlights a familiar trend for the Saints, who often stay in-house with many of their decisions, from coaches to players and staff.
But the question remains: why aren’t the Saints aggressively pursuing a more polished quarterback prospect? Is this a sign of their unwavering confidence in Derek Carr as the long-term answer, or is it indicative of a broader organizational philosophy? While Rattler brings potential, the Saints' approach raises questions about their commitment to developing a franchise quarterback for the future.
Let's dive deeper, going all the way back to 1971, when the Saints last drafted a quarterback in the first round. That quarterback was Archie Manning. That was 53 years ago. It shouldn't be a surprise that's the longest a franchise has gone without selecting a first-round quarterback.
It's time to start planning and looking deeply into drafting a QB high in the upcoming draft or even trying to trade for a young quarterback. Several teams throughout the league have young quarterbacks they may be willing to part with.
So it all goes back to the question: is it really smart for the Saints to focus on winning more games? With one of the worst salary cap situations in the NFL and a likely finish that could land them around the 16th-overall pick, the strategy seems questionable at best.
Let’s be honest— finishing strong likely means another year of Derek Carr under center. It would also continue to reflect the Saints’ pattern of sticking with veteran players rather than embracing a rebuild or committing to developing young talent. This philosophy has shown to make them competitive at times, but it also raises concerns about the team’s vision for the long run. Of course, the Drew Brees signing in 2006 was a home run, but it's possible to draft your future rather than just always trying to sign it.
The NFL is a league increasingly dominated by young quarterbacks— dynamic playmakers who are redefining the game and shaping the future of their franchises. So, when will the Saints come to terms with this reality and start searching for their own young superstar at QB?
