The New Orleans Saints have chosen their starting quarterback for Week 1.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Spencer Rattler is officially QB1 for the Saints.
The #Saints plan to go with Spencer Rattler as their starting quarterback, coach Kellen Moore said. After winning a competition with rookie Tyler Shough and Jake Haener in the preseason, Rattler will get the ball Week 1 vs. Arizona. pic.twitter.com/vo9sbmNX5n— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 26, 2025
Rattler’s selection by first-year head coach Kellen Moore comes on the heels of a competitive preseason QB competition between Rattler, Jake Haener and rookie Tyler Shough, the No. 40 overall selection from the 2025 NFL draft.
Rattler — entering his second NFL season — has the experience edge over Shough.
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Rattler’s been an intruiging prospect since his college career at South Carolina, where he threw for over 3,000 yards in his final season and drew attention from various NFL teams.
Moore is putting his faith behind Rattler as the Saints look to get off to a good start against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1.
The Saints are hoping that Rattler can become another young quarterback to succeed as a starter. A recent trend in the league has seen guys like Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Denver Broncos’ Bo Nix succeed from the get-go, despite their youth.
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Then again, Stroud and Nix are blessed with a superior supporting casts than what surrounds Rattler in New Orleans, as Rattler is well aware of from 2024.
Last season, Rattler threw four touchdowns and five interceptions in seven games for the Saints as a rookie. He accumulated 1,317 passing yards and a 70.4 passer rating along the way.