Why the Saints QB Situation Is a Total No-Brainer

Derek Carr surprisingly retired this offseason, casting the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback room into doubt in 2025 and beyond.

The Saints QB situation has onlookers wondering about the outcome, but folks shouldn’t overthink it. The answer is in plain view.

New Orleans isn’t considered a serious Super Bowl contender or anything of the sort, but when a starting quarterback retires after free agency and the NFL draft, it’s noteworthy.

And regarding solutions for the Saints at quarterback, the answer, for better or worse, is right there. No overthinking required.

Tyler Shough Is the Saints QB1 — or He Should Be

Probably somewhat aware of the impending Carr retirement bombshell, the Saints drafted Louisville passer Tyler Shough from Round 2 of April’s draft.

Round 2 isn’t quite the talent Graceland that the 1st Round emanates, but more often than not, 2nd-Round signal-callers get auditions in the NFL before too long.

Shough is not some late-round scratch-off; the Saints spend high-round capital on him. The evidence isn’t too mysterious with Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and Hunter Dekkers on the depth chart with Shough. Shough is the guy. Full stop.

Perhaps if Carr didn’t retire, this summer would entail a Carr v. Shough battle at training camp and in the preseason. But that is not the case.

A Team Must Start a Rookie That old

Shough will mind-bogglingly be 26 years old by the end of September. By conventional standards, he should be getting ready to saddle up for the first or second year of his second NFL contract. That’s not an exaggeration.

It’s clear that New Orleans wants to roll with Shough. Why else — on Earth — would a team use a 2nd-Round pick on a quarterback who will turn 26 as a rookie?

In fact, Shough should be the most game-ready rookie quarterback in recent history. He must start. If he does not, one could argue the Saints made a rotten pick.

You don’t buy a used car with 140,000 miles and then let it sit in the garage because you’re afraid to put miles on it.

Why Even Bother with Spencer Rattler?

Spencer Rattler is the type of quarterback you let marinate on the depth chart behind Derek Carr and toss him in the lineup if Carr gets injured and the season is in the toilet — like the Saints did in 2024.

He may have some juice to eventually develop into a QB1, but based on his scouting report leading up to last year’s draft and subsequent performance for New Orleans last year, he’ll probably be best suited for a high-end QB2 platform.

Drafting a 26-year-old quarterback from Round 2 but instead starting a 5th-Rounder from the previous draft who stunk as a rookie flatly doesn’t make sense.

Aaron Rodgers Isn’t Interested

Aaron Rodgers might be the only other viable option to lead the 2025 Saints.

Conveniently, Rodgers was asked last week about the opportunity to sign in New Orleans, and he replied, “No. That’s the answer. No. I’ve played there a couple of times, but no. The answer is no. I’m too old. I don’t want to live in Louisiana. Sorry.”

Rodgers isn’t coming through that door, more evidence that it’s go-time for Shough.

Sink or Swim with the 2nd-Rounder

This is how it goes. If a team insists on choosing a 26-year-old rookie quarterback, it can’t lollygag for a few seasons and wait until the guy is 27 or 28 to kick the tires.

Rattler, Haener, and Dekkers are almost comical as alternatives. There’s no guarantee that Shough will be any good as a QB1, but it’s time to find out as early as Week 1.

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