Following Derek Carr’s retirement announcement on May 10, the race to become the New Orleans Saints’ new QB1 has been blown wide open.
Second-round NFL Draft pick Tyler Shough and second-year QB Spencer Rattler headline the candidates in what head coach Kellen Moore calls a competitive race with OTAs well underway on Airline Drive.
“Most of the decision-making factors obviously will come in training camp and preseason football, but this is certainly a nice little step for them,” said the rookie head coach.
A quarterback battle has been a rare sight in New Orleans since the turn of the century, so with the starting job on the line, let’s take a closer look at each player in the Saints' room.
Tyler Shough
The rookie quarterback has made some strong first impressions both on and off the field, and the 26-year-old is the early favorite to earn the starting role.
Coming off his seventh and most productive season in college, throwing for 3,195 yards and leading Louisville to a 9-4 record, Shough has shown off his incredible arm talent in his opening weeks as a Saint.
Tyler Shough showed today why many evaluators believed he had the best arm talent in the 2025 NFL Draft. Dude can spin it. https://t.co/UO8LAcXx6g
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) May 29, 2025
While his injury history at the collegiate level is a worry, Moore and GM Mickey Loomis have heaped praise on Shough for his experience and leadership capabilities.
His throwing coach, Landry Klaan, even sees ex-LSU star Joe Burrow as a legitimate comparison for the rookie, as reported by Mike Triplett. Should Shough live up to that billing, he promises to be the starter in black and gold for years to come.
Even at 40th overall, it is the highest the franchise has drafted a quarterback in over 50 years. Excitement abounds about Shough’s potential, and the earliest signs out of OTAs look to be overwhelmingly positive.
Spencer Rattler
The sophomore quarterback had his share of opportunities in the 2024 regular season amidst injuries to Carr, though he is yet to record his first win as a starter in the NFL.
Rattler showed flashes in his rookie season, notably against the Washington Commanders in Week 15 when he stepped in at halftime to throw 10-of-21 with a touchdown in a spirited effort that was a two-point conversion away from turning into a comeback victory for the Saints.
He also dealt with several challenges as the Saints battled numerous injuries to key personnel throughout the campaign. A new head coach, offensive coordinator, and teammate in the QB room emphasize the much-welcomed fresh start of the new season for the promising 24-year-old.
Rattler, too, has impressed in the early stages since OTAs began. He’s worked with the first-team offense, though Moore has clarified that the quarterbacks will rotate taking that responsibility for now.
“I guess you could say I’m a little more comfortable now going into Year 2,” said the former Oklahoma and South Carolina QB.
The 2024 fifth-round draft pick has always welcomed the spotlight since his high school days on the Netflix series QB1: Beyond the Lights. So far, he and Shough appear to be making for an entertaining battle for the starting job.
Jake Haener
An outsider for the QB1 role, Jake Haener is entering his third season in the black and gold. The 2023 fourth-round pick didn’t see the field as a rookie, a season which included a six-game suspension for mistakenly violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance rules, though he did make his first start in the aforementioned game against the Commanders as a second-year pro last season, a campaign in which he sparingly appeared in 8 games.
The former three-year starter at Fresno State is currently sidelined with an oblique injury sustained during the opening days of OTAs, though he is set to miss no more than a few weeks. Nevertheless, it’s unfortunate timing for the 26-year-old as the new-look quarterback room begins its battle for the starting role.
Haener’s opportunities have been limited as a Saint, but he’s garnered praise for his personality and character as a teammate. He’ll hope to make a strong impression of his own when he makes his return to the field.
So, who starts?
With training camp fast approaching in the Crescent City, the quarterback battle will no doubt continue to garner the most attention. Coach Kellen Moore has an important decision on his hands, and one that he appears comfortable taking his time to make.
With Haener sidelined, the Saints signed undrafted quarterback Hunter Dekkers after he impressed in a tryout at rookie minicamp. He’ll be looking to make the 53-man roster, and for now he remains the fourth and final QB in attendance at OTAs.
Who do you want to see take the first snap when the Saints take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 in Caesars Superdome? Let us know in the comments below!